Anywho, started the day out in normal fashion with a little breakfast, bible study, and getting the laundry started. He practically sits by the door waiting on me to get finished so we can head out. (Before I go on, I want to throw out there that I have been doing a bible study on the fruits of the spirit, and today talked a lot about kindness. This info will come in handy in a bit). So, I put Maddox's leash on, and off we went!
As soon as I stepped outside I thought to myself, "It is rather warm today for 10:00 a.m." However, I didn't think much of it. Maddox was already running and pulling me down the stairs. I am not sure how long our walk is, but if I had to guess I would say about 4-5 miles or so? Well, we were about half way through the walk when I noticed Maddox was acting very strange. He was breathing extra hard and he kept pulling me off the sidewalk to EVERY tree we passed. At first I was like, "Stop Maddox! Bad boy! Quit pulling mommy!" The further along I DRAGGED him, I realized that he was desperately diving into any shade that he could find! So I stopped with him in the shade for a second and when I got to him, he just LAID OUT! If you have met Maddox, you would know that this is not normal behavior. First of all, he is super fast all the time...we call him the muscle. He never gets tired and has more energy that any dog I have ever seen (preparing me for a boy, much?). Also, he is definitely a leash dog, and if he gets a chance, he is outta there! So the fact that he laid there and I didn't even have to hold the leash really scared me! Then I noticed he was breathing funny, and his tongue was practically laying on the ground. On top of that...he started to whimper! I have NEVER heard that from him, and he is 2 years old! So I got real scared and started petting him. Yea, his coat was scorching hot. We sat there for a minute, and then I thought to myself, "We can't just sit in this person's yard under their tree," as well as, "Man...we are a at least a couple miles from home, and I can't make him walk." Therefore, while I am tearing up because I feel like a terrible doggy parent for making him overheat, my pregnant self picks him up and holds him like a baby (something he never lets you do), and started trucking it. I tried to go as fast as I could to get him out of the sun, but after a mile or so I wasn't feeling too great either! He weighs 22 pounds and started getting a little heavy. He seriously looked me in the eyes the entire time as to say, "Mommy, I don't feel good. Please get me home." It was absolutely pitiful. I was talking to him the whole time telling him that I was sorry, and that I was going as fast as I could. Finally, I had to stop on the corner in the shade to sit because I couldn't go any further. He just laid in my lap while I sat. Then, this lady pulls up out of nowhere, rolls down her window, and says, "Ma'am, can I please give that baby some water? It's pretty hot out here." She hops out of her van-which has kids in it-and grabs the water she was drinking and puts it in some kind of container she had stored in the back. Maddox could barely stand up to drink it! Finally, I put some ice in my hands and held him, and he just laid there licking the ice. That lady was soooo sweet, and so KIND to stop with a van full of kids to give my doggy some water. Notice I said kind....exactly what I was studying about today. I mean, I walked home asking myself, "Would I have done that for a dog on the side of the road if I were in her situation??" I would hope the answer is yes, but I don't know. I feel like the Lord really just used that to show me a true picture of what being kind to people is. Not just being kind to people you know, or when it's convenient, but being kind in all times. She really blessed me (and Maddox) by stopping, and it probably wasn't the most convenient time for her. They were headed to tennis lessons! She even asked if she could drive us home, but I told her that we were right across the street, and would be fine. I thanked her like a thousand times, and then off she went. Once again, Thank you sweet lady for stopping to help out a preggers and her puppy!
Well, I carried Maddox most of the rest of the way back, until I really couldn't take it anymore. I think the ice really helped him because he was a little more perky when I put him down, and he was able to walk back to the apartment. Man, when we got in, he went to his water bowl, lapped it up, and then passed out on the floor. That poor baby. I hope this isn't any indication of the type of parent I will be...over-pushing my children! Ugh. If you need me today, I will be at home, cuddling and loving on Maddox. Short walks for him from here on out!!!!!
Oh, and I had to come back and add the bottom one. He got up and moved to his favorite seat... and snuggled up with one of his birthday presents...
