We tried it out with Nick in it. I put him in the water, took him out, made sure that I could work every aspect of the lift safely and well while P. watched.

It was afternoonish, and Nick was too tired to stay in the water, so we postponed the fun part until today.

Today, it was just us, no caregivers, so we started out in a leisurely way with breakfast, meds, and teeth-brushing. Around 11:00, we started getting ready for the pool.

By noon or earlier (I did not look at the clock), we were in the pool. We had so much fun. Nick had on his life vest, but he still felt better holding on to something (it has been 3 years since he has been in the water). I gave him a couple of noodles and towed him around the pool. Before I knew it, he was moving his legs and arms and (even though he was in an awkward position on his back with the life vest on) propelling himself around the pool. We threw beach balls, and he still had a death grip on the noodles but he batted the ball back to me. We laughed, we had fun, and when I asked him if he was tired . . .

“A little bit.”

“Do you want to go in?”

“No, I want to stay here.”

I had to get sunscreen—I had applied it before we went out, but had not thought of his knees, which floated above the water. They were looking a bit red.

He was so happy in that water, and I finally had to point out that he had goosebumps and that we could come back tomorrow before he’d agree to go in. He was totally exhausted but very happy after about two hours in the pool.

This is why I decided to teach just one night class this summer: so I could go in the pool with Nick. Totally worth it? Yes!

One Hoyer lift hydraulic pump: $275-ish
Salvaged materials: $0
Chains and s-hooks from Lowe’s, foam insulation: Still trying to pry the amount out of P. so we can pay him.
Friends’ labor: $0
Life vest: $39
Noodles: $3.99 each
Sunscreen: $5

Being back in the pool with my dear hubby . . . PRICELESS!