Monday was day one of pool construction at our house. Steve and I decided several months ago that a swimming pool would be a good investment in our children's therapy. The proprioceptive input from the water is excellent for calming them when they are out of control. The added advantage of being able to get good exercise year-round in our own back yard made it impossible to resist.

In just a few rainy hours, our back yard went from this:












to this:



















When Ainsley returned from school at 2:30, she looked out the living room window and said,

"Mommy, I don't want to have a swimming pool."

"Honey," I replied, "I think you're going to love it once it's finished. You'll be able to swim whenever you want to. Remember all those days last summer when you wanted to go to the pool but Ian didn't? Now if that happens, you can still go swimming in our backyard with me. And Ian can do the same when you don't want to swim. Or, you can swim together and have lots of fun."

"No, I really don't want a pool," she countered. "Here's what I want them [the guys digging the hole] to do: I want them to put the dirt back, and then put the grass back, and then put my swing set back. Then it will be perfect."

Ahhhhh, the beloved swing set. The one that rarely was used. It went two doors down the street to her best friend's house where she spends several afternoons a week playing. She has played on the swing set more in the last four days at Georgia's house than she did in the last month at ours. Ainsley has gone to great lengths to make us feel terrible about getting rid of her swing set. Every day, as often as is humanly possible, she reminds me that she wants it back.

I am fairly confident that by mid-February, both of the kids are going to be in that swimming pool every waking moment that they are not in school. I could be wrong ... I certainly hope not.

The one member of the family who is truly going to have a difficult time adjusting to the change: Sugar. The pool is taking up most of the space where she used to do her business. The new fence will create two very large side yards that she can use, but until then she has to go in the front yard. This does not make her happy. She held it all day yesterday until I took her for a walk at 4:15. Surely the dog is not manipulating me into taking her for more walks ... is she?

All I have to say to both of them is this: "Cry me a river, baby, 'cause we need the water to fill the pool."