Just Keep Swimming

This is not a post about

but rather it's a post related to this.

I can't swim.  Shocking, I know, even for someone from Yankeeland. There are two parts to my lack of flotation: physical and mental. When I was a little kid I had, what I remember as, a huge amount of ear infections which ended up with me getting pressure equalizing (PE) tubes. The most common misconception that accompanies parents into my office is "The fluid in his ears is because we washed his hair this morning." Um, not quite how an ear infection works.

Here come's the technical explanation:

(Thanks google images)

Notice the space from the outside of the ear to the ear drum, or the ear canal.  That's where we audiologists look with our fancy flashlight.  If there's water in your kiddo's ear, I'm gonna see it right away. The part of the ear that causes problems when you have an ear infection is the middle ear space. Take a look above. I'll wait. The part of this system that goes wonky and causes fluid to build up isn't the ear at all usually but the tube that leads from the ear. That tube serves the important purpose of letting fluid drain and air circulate between the middle ear space (behind the ear drum) and the throat. Sometimes that tube malfunctions and sometimes it's a matter of a baby growing enough to allow that tube to do it's job.

The ear drum that separates the outer part of your ear and the middle ear space is a, listen closely, SOLID PIECE OF ANATOMY. It's made up of 4 layers and it's purpose is to keep junk out of the middle ear while moving sound towards your auditory nerve. So if water from the bath is causing your kid's ear infection then we have a big problem.

If that explanation just made your eyes roll back in your head and you now require a quick caffeine injection, here's the simple version.  Ear infections, for the most part, mean there's liquid or fluid built up behind the eardrum. That can make one cranky kid! If this is an on-going problem you may need to see a specialist. And they might do one of a couple things including "wait and see", allergy medicine or PE tubes.

Oh, you want me to get back to the not swimming stuff?  Ok, so I had PE tubes as a little kiddo.  Somewhere along the way my  mind had morphed the idea of ear infections into water getting into my ears causing the searing pain. As a result? I freak out and shudder and shy away from water anywhere near my ears. It makes me break out in a sweat and want to run for the hills, literally. Even knowing what I paid a pretty penny to learn, I completely get kids and parents who think the ear infection came from the bathtub.

Today that all changes.  This afternoon I will start swim lessons. Editor's note: The pool was closed for "inclement weather" as the sun was shining and the ice and snow disappeared. Up first is floating. Heaven help me if I can't float! The reason I can now become aquatically adept?

Thanks Westone for providing audiologists one free pair of earmolds a year! These bad boys seal your ear and don't let a drop of pool water in. Now I just need to get past the idea of being under water.

If you need a visual of how challenging this may prove, here's a picture of what I looked like in swim class as a kid. Envision a little girl, cute, big dark eyes, dark brown hair, standing in the shallow end. What I forgot to add was trembling, tears in her eyes and stubborn. She bends toward the pool surface to complete the task: blow air bubbles under water. The tip of her nose touches the water and every muscle freezes in place. Threats, cajoling, bribery, nothing makes a difference. That was me.

I'll keep y'all posted on how big of a freak out I have today and how many little kids laugh at me.