My Only Sunshine

Support the Swim Bug

If you keep track of my blog and all the crazy things I drag my kids to every week then you know that this year Bug started swimming for the city swim team.  She's not the best swimmer on the team, but she has grown so much as part of this team.  The amazing coaches always make her feel good about herself.  The exertion of the swimming makes her glow with health.  The swim meets have taught her an amazing amount of maturity.

In May, Bug will be swimming in the Swim-a-thon to raise money for her swim team.  95% of the money raised goes to the team to pay for pool rental, equipment, and scholarships.  The other 5% goes to USA Swimming.  Every team swimmer is a member of USA Swimming which insures them and provides safety and swim programs all over the country.

Bug's goal, set by the team, is $200.  I think Bug can do better than that.  If you would like to help support her team there are two options.  You can pledge per lap or pledge a flat rate.  We would be happy with any amount you have to give.  Enough people give $1 and it can make a difference.

To make a pledge email me at myonlysunshine@me.com.  Thank you.  

Amanda

Swim Bug

So obviously my kids are involved in lots of stuff.  If you've ever come around here before you can't help but notice that I have two little ballet dancers, a couple of tappers, a jazz and lyrical jazz dancer or two, a swimmer, a volleyball player, two girl scouts, and I'm probably forgetting some.  Yes, all of that in the form of two tiny little girls.

Today I'll just be showing off my swimmer Bug kid.  A couple of weeks ago she had her first big meet and boy was she great.

She swam two mornings in a row, 3 events each day.  This was her first time and she was thrown right in.  The kids are expected to know where they need to be, when they need to be there.  The meet doesn't stop once it has begun.  One event (some with many many heats) is run right after another.  Also, no parents on the pool deck so us moms can't be helping them get where they need to go, when they need to go there.  Bug didn't miss a step though, not even in a room with hundreds of swimmers all moving and talking and swimming at once.

Here's Bug swimming her 100scy (short course yards) Freestyle.  For a kid who has only really been swimming for a year or so, she has great form.  She also did the 50y Free.

Here's the little sweetie Bug dipping her feet in the warm-up pool.  She was very patiently waiting to swim her 100y IM (Individual medley).

Bug is pretty slow in the Breast Stroke but she went for it in the 100y IM and the 50y breast anyway.  I was a very proud Mommy.  She was DQ'd for each but that was to be expected.  She hasn't had much time practicing how to get her breast and butterfly rhythm correct or how to turn and touch at the end.  On top of that, Bug hadn't ever jumped off the blocks until the warm-ups for this meet.  She's a big, brave Bug.

Backstroke is Bug's best stroke and she competed in the 50 and 100y back.  It was so much fun to watch.  Meets can get pretty boring in between the heats your kid is in but it still made for a great weekend.  The next meet is Valentine's Day weekend and we are looking forward to it.  There's just one problem...

...Bug was diagnosed last week with anterior tibialis tendinitis.  

She is supposed to rest for 2 weeks which means no dance and no swim training that involves her feet.  Her coach has her doing dry deck arm and core work and next week she will be swimming with a pull buoy so that she won't be using her legs or feet at all.  We'll see how it goes.