As I watch these videos, I am so proud of him and can't help but think of a few experiences that we have had in the pool that made me think this day would never come.
The first is our anniversary two years ago. We were at the pool with his physical therapist and he was working on standing up by himself in the water for a whole minute without falling over. At one point during the session, he took two or three steps by himself. And I started to cry because I was so amazed that he could do it.
The second isn't quite so positive. It was about a month and a half ago and it also ended in tears, but not the happy kind. Pat was on the side of the pool and I told him that we wouldn't be getting out of the pool until he managed to walk the 5 steps from the side of the pool over to me by himself. I didn't really care if he managed to walk the steps by himself or not, I just wanted him to show some initiative and prove that he could at least try to do something for/by himself. After about 25 minutes of frustration on my part, and anger on his part that I was being so mean, he attempted a few steps. But at that point, he only made it 2 1/2 steps before he face-planted. I remember being so upset and frustrated and thinking that maybe he would never walk.
I never would have thought he would be walking by himself for 60-100 walks across the pool in this short time. And it makes me really wonder what we will accomplish in the next month and a half!
