Stranger Things Have Happened

We were all outside on Saturday picking up around the driveway. My neighbor was gone, so I went over to water her flowers and spotted two small (quarter sized) American Toads.

Knowing that toads can be hours of fun for little boys, I called them over. The boys caught them and were off to play with them. They kept having to move where they were playing with them, because of Paco and Memory wanting a piece of the action. Soooo... the toads went into a bucket(for their own protection, of course). (Riky was working on the car, and I was helping/supervising so neither of us were really paying attention.~~I do remember hearing water running and telling them that I did not think that toads could swim.)About 10 minutes later we discovered that once again, Mommy was right. Toads don't swim. Well, they do doggy paddle for a minute or two, and then they sink. The little boys brought me the one they thought was the "most dead" and asked me if I could help it. I jokingly started toad CPR 1--2--3--4(compressions with my pinkie)--blow(about 2inches from the toad's face)1--2--3--4--blow--1--2--3--4--blow--you get the picture. After a few minutes they handed me the other dead toad. I started doing compressions with both my ring finger and pinkie 1--2--3--4--blow. Now all along I had been remarking to the boys to watch the toads' chins when I blew, their chins would fill with air~just a little~After about 5 minutes they took the first toad from me and went off to bury him. I absent mindedly continued with my 1--2--3--4--blow with the second toad. I then decided to just --blow--blow--blow. I wanted to see if the chin would fill up with air or if it would expel each breath as I paused. Low and Behold after about 4 breaths, the toad started to have a little breath of its own. I continued to blow gently until I felt that he had a steady rhythm. Of course, I gathered everybody around. I turned him gently back onto his belly and waited. His limbs were completely limp and he was not moving at all at first, but after about 5 minutes, he got his front legs under him. After 15 he was able to hop just a little. I had the boys put him on the driveway and just watch him. 20 minutes later I was deemed a LIFESAVER. I was SuperMom, if only for one day. I may have to start giving classes in Amphibian Resuscitation!