On Monday, we swam and ate lunch outside at my parents' house. The kids played for hours with Uncle Brandon and Aunt Becca. (For some reason we never remember to take pics at their house, but let me assure you it was great.) My mom, dad, my husband, and my younger brother were all visiting together as well. Both kids jumped off the diving board, Fisher for the first time. He was so proud! I remember thinking, "What a perfect day!"
As the day wore on, we all relaxed, too much really. Everyone was helping watch the kids, so I loved actually being able to sit for a while. As a mom, you constantly play the counting game. At the park, talking to the other moms while watching one child on the slide and pushing the other on a swing - 1,2. Every few seconds, you look around for their faces and count them all to make sure everyone is still accounted for. That day swimming, I did the same from a lawn chair. At one point I counted Addie, but couldn't find Fisher. He had been playing with a watering can "helping" water the flowers, picnic table, and any other object he could find. I wondered where he was, glanced at the pool, and then decided he must still be by the sidewalk playing, as the pool was calm and everyone was out.
This is the part that kills me; it really hurts. I leaned back into my chair. I had full confidence that Fisher must have been just around the corner still watering, safe. This is totally not like me, but for whatever reason that is what I did. But thankfully, I serve an amazing God that graciously intervenes when I fail. God was prompting my heart, but I didn't respond acutely or swiftly. So, the Lord did a modern day miracle. He used my brother, Will, to save the day and my son.
Now if you know Will, his name is enough. If you don't, let me paint a picture. Will is 20 years old. He has a frail frame standing about 5' 6" and can't see very well without his glasses (that he was not wearing that day as we were swimming). Will does exactly what he wants all the time which would include eating honey buns, clapping and vocal ticking or anything else like that if he thinks it will get on your nerves, and he is Autistic. He is quite sharp and can read at a 4th grade level, but he does have multiple disabilities and developmental delays. It was only seconds later after I settled into my chair, that Will walked across the patio and stood looking down at his feet and the water. He calmly replied, "Mom, Fisher is in the pool." Fast forward 2 seconds and 3 adults were in the pool clinging to a sputtering and crying child. We took him to the ER as we were unsure if he ingested water and feared dry drowning, which can happen up to 24 hours after the incident. They did X-rays and fully evaluated and released him. His lungs were completely clear and he was totally fine.
I know a miracle when I see one, and this is it. I should be blogging about my dead 3 year old son right now, but God chose to intervene.
"But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield." Psalm 5:11-12
I pray over my children every night for angels to guard over them and for the Lord to build a hedge of protection around our family. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to see His protection in action, as I am sure this type of thing happens constantly without my knowledge.
For the past 3 weeks, Matt and I have gone through a lot in regards to Fisher's near death experience. We have felt extreme guilt for not seeing him fall in and watching him more closely. We took his life jacket off to eat and were getting ready to go back inside, but we had a gap of several minutes where he was not protected. There was no splash or movement in the water, and we were not the ones who found him first. We were both sitting 10 feet away, and he was dying. (Please refrain from commenting by trying to straighten me out. I know it is no one's fault. Everyone thought someone else "had" him. It happens. I know.) Matt and I had nightmares. Fisher had night terrors. We either slept in his bed or put him in ours for a week. When we did sleep, it was only a couple hours here and there. What if God had not intervened? Why did my child live and others don't? We knew God would have walked with us through grief as well, but we kept thinking about what it would be like if he had not made it.
But slowly, mercifully, the Lord is piecing us back together. Exactly 3 Mondays later, Fisher started ISR (Infant Survival Rescue) swimming lessons. They are quite expensive, but worth every penny. They teach small children and babies how to hold their breath, flip over on their back, and float while they breathe and call for help. As the children age, they teach them to flip back over on their tummy and swim to safety. For the "test" at the end of several weeks of one-on-one training, they jump into the pool fully clothed, shoes and all. They flip, float, and swim. 86% of child drownings happen fully clothed. They are usually playing with toys or trying to reach something near the water's edge, as sweet Fisher was with his watering can. I always thought my kids would just learn to swim sort of on their own, like my siblings and I did growing up. Please be more proactive about this that I was, and get them trained at a young age. Don't rely on life jackets (unless you are at the lake). Use water wings if you must, and stay by their side. A friend told me recently, "Kids don't learn to swim unless their mom gets her hair wet." So get in there with them! Teach them to respect water and let them know they will sink if they can't swim yet. Practice floating, and do the ISR lessons if you can find them in your area.
Today, life is good but different. We are a little on edge, especially concerning our kids' safety. We have taught Addie to float on her back, and she can swim under water for several feet. She is in hog heaven about it! We just made a bid on a bank owned property, our first house if we had the highest bid. It is a season marked with joy, but apprehension as well. As people, we all wonder...Can I do it? Do I have what it takes? What do I do next? Can we survive or make it through this? I can not imagine how it would be walking alone without my Savior. If you do not feel God in your life or wonder if He even exists, let me assure you that He does. Start praying, asking God if He is real to show himself to you. Read a Bible. Pray for Him to place people in your life to help you find Him. (He does not leave you if you are a believer. It is the other way around). He is good, real, and loves you like a maniac. But He will not come into your life uninvited. If you are a believer, invite Him into your life. Sound strange? Well, let me explain. Satan is real as well. Scripture tells us,
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8
Satan has power on Earth and pushes his way into our lives. The Lord is a gentleman, and he waits for us to ask Him into our life. Notice what I am saying, Satan is NOT more powerful by any means, but he has been turned loose on earth. We must be intentional about bathing ourselves and others in prayer for God to be involved in the circumstances we encounter day to day. Ask God for protection, guidance, and wisdom. It is a beautiful picture really. We ask, and then we truly see when God answers our prayers so we can give Him glory instead of chalking it up to luck.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find. knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8
Well, this was long but I wanted to praise God for what all He has been doing in our midst!
Blessings,
Alice
