Swimming!

Last Friday Angie and I went to see dad together! After Angie's swimming experience a few weeks ago she thought it would be fun to take him again but it definitely is safer with two people! So we went down to their place at the usual time and chatted a bit with mom and caught up on stuff. We were headed out the door when mom noticed that her wind chime had been taken down. She said "Mike did you climb up there and take that down last night?" He proudly said, "no I did it with my cain" Then he proceeded to babble about how it was irritating the neighbors and someone had knocked on the door... meanwhile I was telling mom it really is the most irritating wind chime and without missing a beat I pointed at dad and said, "that's a lie" and continued talking about how annoying it is.... dad fumbled a bit and then broke out in the biggest smile and just started laughing! Mom was dying! She thought it was the greatest thing that  I had completely called him out and that he also thought it was funny! I haven't seen a grin that big on dads face... ever I don't think! We all laughed about it for a bit and then Angie and dad and I headed downstairs to the pool!
I was about a million degrees when we first got into the pool room but dad knew exactly where the fans were so once those were on it cooled way down. He did a great job of getting himself into the pool and was able to walk around the shallow end with ease. I think I caught him way off guard when I tossed the beach ball at him but we had fun tossing it around and Angie joined in and the three of us had it going for quite a while! Then Dad wanted to try and swim so he held onto the sides and I held his feet while he kicked. He was complaining because he has no coordination in his legs anymore. It really was like holding dead weight while he tried to kick his legs... he can't bring them up to the surface at all and he tired out REALLY quickly! He rested on the stairs for awhile and the three of us just chatted and then he said he wanted to walk more so Angie and I each held one of his hands and we walked back and forth in the shallow end probably 15 times and then he said "ok I've had enough!" We were in the pool for a solid hour though so that was great! Getting out of the pool dad was still able to hold onto the railing and pull himself but he was clearly far more exhausted then when we arrived which is why it is best to have two people to help him out!
We got him all dried off and made our way back up to the apartment. Angie helped dad get in the shower immediately and I made him lunch. We chatted a bit more with mom and then Nancy number two got there. Angie and I sat with dad until he finished his lunch and then we left.
It was definitely a fun day and I think we'd like to take him swimming more often! It seems like a really great way to keep him active and I am not sure why the Physical therapy people have never said anything about it before. Angie had a conversation with Nancy #2 informing her of how active dad used to be and this disease is so hard for him because he can't do anything for himself. I'm not sure that Nancy has understood that. We definitely don't expect her to be swimming with him but when its nice out it would be great if she would take him for walks and such! Anyhoo... thats all for now! Hopefully we'll come up with something fun to do this friday!