It’s starting to get chilly overnight here in the Bay Area. It was 37 degrees the other night and last night it was 39. This is typical in our area, so the lakes of course are starting to get chilly too. Wetsuits for sure if we plan on doing any open water swimming. Well, no plans right now, but an unforseen trip into the SUPER COLD lake was in store for Reid and I today!
We took Belle to the lake this AM and met up with a dozen other friends and their dogs. It’s so cute and so much fun to watch our ‘kids’ frolic in the lake and on the dirt trails. It’s just as rewarding to see our dogs be so happy as it is for those with ‘real’ kids. But for most people, I’m sure it’s hard to understand how we feel. It’s ok though, as long as we feel this way about our ‘kids’ that’s all that matters. A couple of people have told Reid and I that it’s totally different when you have your own ‘real’ kids and we’re like, no it’s not, we’ll treat them all the same. Which, if you ask our friends, means that we’ll treat our kids AMAZINGLY well 
Belle’s favorite water toy, her orange bumper (duck retrieving toy) had a hole in it. It was perfectly fine for the first 20 mins of her retrieving in the lake today. But then another lab went after her bumper and couldn’t grab it and it started to sink. Reid and I saw this happening from shore and we wanted to jump in and grab it before it sunk all the way. We thought about it, but then again, we were wearing jeans and sweatshirts, so it was a no go. Belle was swimming around and around trying to find it, but no luck. It was too deep and she hasn’t learned to dive down that deep yet. So, we decided to head home, get our suits on, bring our goggles and give it a shot. It was so tough leaving the lake with Belle still looking for her toy. She usually carries it to the car too after we’re done and so she kept looking at us, sitting in front of us, stopping us, it was so sad.
So, as good parents we were back at the lake in the afternoon. This time it was our turn to dive down to find her bumper. Little did we know that it was going to be SUPER COLD!! Reid got in first and he didn’t look like he was freezing just yet. So Belle and I followed him in and OMG!!! it was FRRREEZING! I couldn’t catch my breathe, I was starting to hyperventilate and was telling Reid that I couldn’t do this. He just told me to relax and try to take some breathes and I’ll be fine soon enough. Phew! He was right! I calmed down and started searching for Belle’s toy. It was flippin’ COLD! Did I say that already? WOW ‘we are crazy’ was all I could think of. All this suffering for our ‘kids’ toy. Now, would a parent do that for their ‘real’ kid? Not sure, but I doubt it.
We swam around for 20 mins and that was all we could take. No luck. We dove down a couple of times and all we could see was murky lake water and weeds. Belle was in the water with us this whole time and every time one of us would dive down, she would wimper as she wasn’t sure if we were ok. One of us would tell her that it was ok and she would stop. What a cool pup!!
We shivered for a good 30 mins even with our dry clothes on. We finally stopped shivering after getting EXTRA HOT coffees from Starbuck’s
What a day!!
21 Comment(s)
Anonymous said:
Great parents for sure! How cold was the lake?
ShirleyPerly said:
I doubt that most parents would have gone diving into a cold lake to retrieve their kid’s toy. Belle is blessed to have such AWESOME parents!
Damie said:
You know I love my babies too!
I do think it is such a neat thing to be able to share that love and connection with an animal- different communication between the two, but it all works out and means love. I hope you are having a great off season Eileen!
Eileen Swanson said:
The lake was in the low 60s. Brrr….
Bruce said:
The low 60s? You need a wetsuit for that? (Still, I have yet to swim in water that temperature). Maybe you should buy two orange duckies for Belle. I doubt if she would be able to tell the difference if you exchanged one for the other.
Eileen Swanson said:
Bruce, she can tell if it doesn’t have her scent on it. She is a smart cookie
Beth said:
I definitely do not think most parents would have gone fishing for their childs toy! Belle is one lucky pup!
By the way – I like the look of the new blog! 
Laura said:
I like the new look too Eileen!
And I agree, there is something special about the bond with a four legged ‘kid’. I think that bond is the definition of unconditional love!
MM said:
You guys are the best parents. We all see it. Love seeing you guys with Belle at the races
Mira Lelovic said:
You’re a better parent than I am. I would have told my kids “too bad”
Jen said:
Awww, this story makes me smile and warms my heart!!!! I totally understand…
Awesome parents, indeed!!
D said:
Awww… I would have done the exact same thing. I can TOTALLY appreciate where you’re coming from.
One night I woke up around 3am and realized my cat hadn’t come home before my dad went to bed (he went to bed after me, when I lived at home, and made sure the boys were in). Well with many tears, I got dressed and started walking around the neighbourhood calling for him (oh and it was the middle of winter… a cooold 3am!). Finally I walked by the house again and he was sitting there waiting. He must have heard me.
Believe me, that’s not the only story like that either hah.
People love their creatures!!!
BreeWee said:
ha ha ha ha ha, I am laughing soooooo hard at Mira’s comment, that is hilarious! “Too bad Kainoa”. I might try that…
E… now I am curious if you will ever even have a baby for fear of having to share your attention with Belle and the new born
Jen said:
Hey Eileen! Last initial is C. I think there may be more than one of those.
Guess you could use Jen-Tampa or FL??
Take care and kiss that sweet doggie for me!!
Eileen Swanson said:
Bree, you are too funny. Of course I would give them equal amounts of attention
Marco said:
Hello you two,
your report is nice to read.
how you are this one so?
you no longer so often are in the myspace.
however, blog has always read yours within the last months.
what this one does belle so, she is well.
Malcolm has got rather tall and has become a right type.
we have very much jest with Malcolm.
Luke has got three years old last week and in May 2009 we are having another baby.
threes hope you are well good
says hello kind
Marco from Germany
Marco said:
Hello you two,
your report is nice to read.
how you are this one so?
you no longer so often are in the myspace.
however, blog has always read yours within the last months.
what this one does belle so, she is well.
Malcolm has got rather tall and has become a right type.
we have very much jest with Malcolm.
Luke has got three years old last week and in May 2009 we are having another baby.
threes hope you are well good
says hello kind
Marco from Germany
Lisa G said:
Awww, that is so cute! So nice of you guys to go back and try to find the toy in the freezing lake! I would have done the same thing for my pup Hugo!! Brave of you to venture into the cold lake, too. I guess Belle doesn’t mind the cold water?
Mer! said:
Ohhh, we totally would have had the same debate in our house “do we find the toy or not?”….when one of our dogs toys is dirty and needs to be washed—it will sit by the door to the laundry room for *hours* until the toy is cleaned and washed!! They are SO smart!!!
Oh! Btw–thank you so much for your blog comment, and totally add me to your blog roll, and i’ll add you to mine!! Ew—it’s like we’re ten and asking permission to be friends…..too funny =0
Shawn and Tracy said:
So sorry Belle lost her toy
I took our kid to the d-o-g p-a-r-k today again. Gunner’s really smart too, so I have to spell it in code our he’ll catch on 
Super mud fest and even with my wellies I fell a few times. Seriously, what we will do for our kids.
Tracy
Kellye Mills said:
We have birthday parties for our first baby, Rocky! I’m totally ok that you went looking for the toy!