The county swim meet

As we have done every year for the past 7 years, our summer activity was swim team.  This year for the first time ever, we debated back and forth whether to do it or not.  I really was having trouble deciding.  We normally do it with several friends and some were not doing it this year, and  some were moving to a different team for various reasons.  We ended up going back to the team where we have swam for the past two years with the Hills. While it is very nice to have some close friends on the team, we have missed having our large group of friends. 

Every year, one of the kids is at the top of his/her age group and for my kids- it alternates.  This was Justin's year to be at the "top" or oldest in his age group and he was honored to be chosen to represent our team at the Cobb County swim meet next weekend.  We just found out on Monday of this week and he was super-excited about the invitation.  He normally does not like swim team and doesn't have any friends (boys anyways!) there this year, so he was looking forward to the end of early morning practices.  When I told him this would mean an extra week of practice, he was fine with that.  He had a totally new attitude and worked really hard at practice that day. He didn't even complain about dryland for the first time this year.  He was bummed that he couldn't swim the relays because those are always so fun, but there are not enough boys. 

Because of the way they break the age groups down, the practice is for kids 11-18 for the earliest practice, then the 7-10 year olds, and then the 6 and unders.  We tried to do the appropriate age groups but Justin just wasn't getting much practice time in.  There were some kids in his age group that couldn't even swim and he was running over the kids and they just play around a lot, so we let him try the older group and he has practiced with them all year and it has worked well for him and me by saving me an extra hour at the pool every day.  I'm sure it has helped his endurance and flip turns as he started doing them during races this year. 

So, we went to White Water on Tuesday and he jammed his toe four times!! I really didn't think too much about it until we got home and I got a good look at it. It was purple and swollen.  He hasn't been walking on it this week. I thought it might have been broken. It was really hurting to swim the next day at practice and I thought....great! (insert sarcasm here). 

So today he mentions that his ear is hurting when he swims and so we rush to the doctor before a long holiday weekend and sure enough...he has swimmer's ear in both ears and is not supposed to swim for a week!  Which would mean no practice next week!! :(

So, please pray for us that we will do the drops religiously and get him well enough to compete in the meet.  I will keep you posted via the blog on what happens.   Thanks!