My DD, Erin, had a big adventure last week at her cousin's bday party. Erin, age 2, and her brother (4) and cousin (5) had been swimming in the pool at my SIL's house with their arm floaties on. I was in the house napping and the kids were being supervised by my DH, his mom, his sister, and her husband. The boys decided to take their floaties off and play by the edge in the shallow end, which is OK because they can both touch bottom, and they even asked permission first.

Erin, however, did NOT ask permission, and cannot touch bottom. This didn't stop her from trying, though! My SIL suddenly noticed Erin was missing, and spotted the top of her head under the water, bobbing up and down. She raised the alarm, and both DH and my BIL went flying into the water, fully clothed and wearing all their electronic gear.

They pulled her out and she was fine, she had known to hold her breath. Both the boys were extremely impressed with the rescue - "That was REALLY cool, Daddy!" My MIL woke me up and told me what happened. I went outside to find the guys pulling off dripping wet cellphones, pagers, wallets, shoes, etc. I asked Erin what she was doing, and she replied, "I'se twying to schwim, Mommy!", making paddling motions.

We put DH's cellphone and pager into ziploc bags of rice. We didn't leave the pager in long enough, and it was toast. His cellphone is a really expensive one like a palm pilot, which the phone company won't insure. We left it in from Saturday evening until Wednesday evening, and when we plugged it in it worked perfectly!

So this was kind of a learning experience all around. Erin now knows not to get in the pool without her floaties. We know that rice really will dry out electronics. And it's really nice to know that daddies will do anything necessary when kids need help.

Glad she's okay!

But, I cannot sit idly by without mentioning that she should not have been in the pool without an adult personally attending her. Swimmies are NOT approved flotation devices for a reason!

Whew! Close call there.....kids are so quick and willing to try something new. I'm so glad she's OK. At times like that the electronic stuff is just that...stuff. And it can be replaced.

We had a pool while my boys were growing up and I used to drive my DH batty about being IN the pool with them and not just sitting in a chair or fiddling around with the grill or something. It was a rare occasion that they were in the pool without me being in there with them. I've moved and don't have a pool now and will never have one again! Too much upkeep and $$.

I agree - I thought DH was going to be in the pool with them. I was sick or I would have been out there myself. Not that I would do much good as I'm not a very good swimmer. I think DH has learned his lesson. I very much doubt they will be in the water without him from here on out.

glad she is ok, had an incedent years ago with my oldest, thats a pretty scary feeling. Glad everything turned out ok

Thank God she's OK, and BTW....thanks for the heads up about the rice in the zip lock bag! I hadn't heard of that.