Well, this video is bittersweet for a couple of reasons.

Well, this video is bittersweet for a couple of reasons.  1)  It's never easy to let go of anyone you have been taking care of.  And 2)  This might be my last wildlife post for a while.  🙁

I have shared this with a very select few people so if you are able to see this - you are special.  I doubt it can be seen if shared and to be honest I'd rather it not get out right now.

This is the mama that I removed from the drain pipe at the Oxford Exchange.  She was ready to go, tired of being cooped up, and I TOTALLY understand.  Opossums can cover a lot of ground in one night so being caged is not ideal for them.  But I think she looks great and all of the babies are big and healthy so it was a good time.  I'd hoped to do it over the weekend, but I wasn't going to put them out in the rain.  So, last night it was.  🙂

Anyway, the reason for the secrecy is that I found out over the weekend that my permit to rehab is not valid.  Deep down I kind of knew it was too easy and too good to be true.  I wanted it too bad for it to happen like that.  I tried last year to get a permit and was shot down by a crooked guy with too much power for absolutely no good reason.  I was honestly heartbroken.  Earlier this year the group I tried to join contacted me, told me crooked dude was out, and asked if I was still interested.  I definitely was so they accepted me with open arms and life was great.

Unfortunately, the group has to answer to the Department of Conservation and I am not in the right district to receive a valid permit from them.  I am not the only one that this has happened to so I don't suspect anything weird going on.  The group has been really supportive of me and one of the board members is reaching out to a few other organizations to see if she can help locate another group who would be able to give me a valid permit.  My paws are crossed that that works out.

If not - I'm going to be honest and say that I'm not going to stop.  I'm just not.  I've never been one to look away when someone needs my help if there is any possible way I can help them.  I just won't be able to make anything public since without a permit it's illegal to rehab.  That really sucks because I enjoy sharing my babies with everyone.  They make me smile and I know they make you smile, too.  Who doesn't love to look at baby animals?

Anyway, I'm kind of hoping that if no other group is able to give me a permit that it will lead to something bigger and better.  Perhaps a Central Alabama Wildlife Rehab group?  I know that I was getting pretty overwhelmed so there definitely needs to be more than just me in this area who can rehab.  However things turns out, I just want everyone to know that I'm not giving up or letting it go easily.  I understand that I can no longer have what I had, but that doesn't mean I can't have something else of equal value, or better, even.  🙂

So, that's the story for now.  I'll keep everyone posted on how things turn out.  ❤

Just got back from the vet with Win.

Just got back from the vet with Win.  He's resting comfortably now.  He's still not into eating - not even sausage or hot dog.  Drinking like crazy, though.  More antibiotics.  Pancreas is painful.  Here's hoping it's just complications from having Giardia (which he's clean of), and not something more awful.

On the bright side he did touch me several time with his nose today.  Usually when he sniffs me he barely touches me, if at all.  But now he seems less afraid to touch me.  I've petted his back a few times, but every time I touched him so lightly that he did that "You're tickling me!" thing with his skin and then looked at me like I was crazy.  Oops.  😂  I just didn't want him to feel threatened.  He's still avoiding everyone else totally, human-wise.  Seems to take comfort in leaning against my fence when my dogs are outside, though.

Srsly?

Srsly?  I had a mocha iced coffee on my way home earlier.  Now I'M starting to feel nauseated.  🙁  Maybe that was too much sugar and too much caffeine.

This might be a looong, unhappy night.  🙁

Well... Win is barfing again. 🙁

Well... Win is barfing again.  🙁  Poor boy.  Poor me.  I guess we'll be at the vet's office bright and early tomorrow.

Crazy day. 😳

Crazy day.  😳

I woke up late which equals a late start doing things.  While the sleep was good it's never great to get my animals off schedule like that.  😐

Ran to Munford to get Shadow.  On the way lost control of my car COMPLETELY.  I wasn't going over the speed limit or anything, but there came a sudden downpour and I just started to hydroplane like a mofo.  I was on 202 and thankfully there wasn't a lot of other traffic out.  I just let go of the steering wheel and removed my foot from all the pedals.  Spun all out into the middle of the road then ended up back on my side of the road somehow, but facing the wrong direction.  THAT was scary.  I wasn't hurt and didn't hit anything or anyone and Shadow wasn't with me - so that was all good.  But I was shaken up.  I had to just turn my car off and sit there for a minute.  Wow.

Went to a CCSS meeting and made a new friend.  Well, I knew him from social media, but it's always nice to meet people in real life.  Also saw some people I haven't seen in a while - I'm looking at you, Dora and Freddie!  That was nice.  🙂  Now that the meeting is over Shaun is hosting some of the same people he just saw at the meeting at his house.  I guess some people don't have better things to do than drink and play video games.  That's ok because I do.  I'm gonna feed all of my babies and settle in and spend some quality time with my son.  ❤

In Win news:  When I got home he'd peed all over the couch and the floor and pooped all in his crate.  There was a stream of piss dripping into my bedroom.  That was NOT a fun mess to clean up.  Thankfully, it was just poop and not diarrhea, but still.  Yuck.  😂

Catch you later, Internet.  I gotta run.  ❤

So I went to let the dogs out and found...

So I went to let the dogs out and found Casper snoozing on his back, legs up in the air, without a care in the world.  It was quite adorable.  😃  Too bad I didn't see him before I made noise and woke him up!  I would have grabbed the camera!

Here is some bad news:  I found my little frog dead yesterday.  I don't have any idea what happened, but he was floating belly-up.  That's a real bummer.  I loved to hear him sing at night.  🙁

To end on a happier note:  I have no idea how many roaches I have now.  Like, they are BLOWING THROUGH some food.  I will admit that I've been too busy to just observe them like I used to, but if I put food in a few days later it is all gone.  It used to take a lot longer - like close to two weeks.  Also, I haven't fed more than 20 or so to my lizards because I was trying to let my colony grow.  I hear them scuttling around in there and it makes me wonder how many I have now.  That is VERY exciting.  😃  Maybe I'll open it up and peek in soon.  It's still hard to tell, though because they hide.

Anyway.  I'm getting hungry.  Catch you later, Internet!

Got some yard work done...

Got some yard work done before the rain came.  Burned a lot of branches.  Woohoo!  Now it's time for a shower and to do my nails.  They are SO BEYOND ganked up right now!

Oh man, I just found some fresh Dumplin' turds!

Oh man, I just found some fresh Dumplin' turds!  They look closer to normal than I've seen in over a week.  I'm so excited that I almost just photographed them.  ALMOST.  You're welcome, Internet.  😃

I am about to talk about poop.

I am about to talk about poop.  Just thought I'd warn some of you more sensitive folks.  Skip to the last paragraph for opossum stuff.  😛

Well, I started giving Dumpy some veggies and squirrel blocks.  Cut his formula back to twice a day.  So far, so good on that.  Haven't seen a fresh poop to know if it's helping or hurting that, but I'll keep an eye out.

Win is becoming more expressive.  He'll whine or bark to let me know if he needs something, and he's also started pawing at the door of his kennel when he needs out.  Good boy for communicating!  On the flip side, he's had terrible gas and his poops are explosive today.  🙁  He smells wormy, if you ask me.  (I don't care if that's a weird thing to say - I bet most dog rescuers know exactly the smell I'm talking about.)  He's drinking a TON of water.  Maybe it's time for another trip to the vet.  He might be doing well enough to get his shots now, and I could also get him de-wormed while I'm at it.  I will check into all of that tomorrow.

On the opossums I'm thinking that I might release Little Mama and her crew this weekend.  Kim mentioned it to me that she needs to be able to teach her little ones how to survive and that makes sense.  She's eating well and looking good, as are the babies.  They are HUGE.  I will definitely get photos before I let her go.

On my orphans, they are doing great.  Active little buggers!  They are so adorable and funny.  I will have to get more photos of those guys soon, too.  🙂

Jennifer, you rock!

Jennifer, you rock!  Thank you SO MUCH for all the blankets and things for my babies.  That is going to help me a lot.  😃

I'm glad you and Kelly got to come by and meet the crew.  I am sorry again for the state of my yard.  Maybe we can have a ladies night one night when everything is all fixed up.  ❤

I have a dog that is off the "going out" schedule...

I have a dog that is off the "going out" schedule and keeps peeing in my floor.  They are all great, but once in a while that happens and it drives me CRAZY!  The worst part is that I don't even know who it is so I don't know who to give special attention to in order to help them get right.  😳  It will work itself out - it always does.  I just don't understand how that happens.

Also, I think that today is a snow pants kind of day.  I don't have time for all this "being cold" stuff.  😐

Later, Internet.  Gotta make my rounds.  ❤

Shadow with a little hitch-hiker up top. 😃

Shadow with a little hitch-hiker up top.  😃

I love how sweet and gentle my kid is.  He's the best.  ❤

ADOPTED 05/17/13 - Handsome Win, chilling in his crate - a.k.a. his happy place. 🙂

ADOPTED 05/17/13 - Handsome Win, chilling in his crate - a.k.a. his happy place.  🙂

So tired.

So tired.  Making the opossums dinner and calling it a night.  Maybe I'll get a shower in before I crash out.  I definitely need one!  😂

Not a lot new to report.  Opossum orphans are doing well - as is Little Mama and her crew.  I would love to get more photos soon, but just haven't had my camera at the ready.

Dumplin' has me so confused.  I started him on Albon per a vet's instruction on Saturday.  He's supposed to be on it for 10 days - today is day 5.  I have seen some improvement in his poops, but it comes and goes.  Sometimes he makes turds and sometimes he just leaks.  It's awful and I'm not sure what else to do.  Also, since his butt is unpredictable he hasn't been out to play or exercise.  He's rubbing a bald spot on his head - I guess from playing in his cage.  Thankfully, I have a larger enclosure coming this weekend so maybe that will help him as far as exercise and boredom.  I guess if his butt isn't any better by the weekend I'll make an appointment with Dr. Atlas and keep it no matter what.  I just wanted to give the medication a chance to work before taking him in.  Rehabbers / anyone else with squirrel experience:  Feel free to weigh in here.

Other news I guess is Win.  Not a lot new to report there.  I've got him on a long lead that hasn't been removed since Shelby put it on him.  Even though it's the length of two leashes he always looks like he feels that I'm walking too close to him.  If he feels any tension on the leash whatsoever he stops and looks at me as though I've snatched him back.  🙁  If I walk too slow and the leash tugs slightly he looks at me that way, and if I walk at a quicker pace to keep up with him he looks over his shoulder and appears rather uncomfortable that I'm behind him - kind of like I'm chasing him.  I can't win with the leash situation.  😂😭

He still looks at me and sniffs me, but he hasn't come around anymore just yet.  I have been so busy that it's not like I've had a lot of time to just stop and hang out with him, but he seems to prefer to be left alone so that works for both of us right now.  He's almost done with his Giardia medication so his poops are looking a lot better.  He is definitely going to need a good de-worming, though.  Also I'm no expert, but I'm thinking that he's got bad hips.  When he squats to use the bathroom or tries to stand up in his crate it looks like a bit of a struggle.  Poor fella.  But he is perking up and gaining weight and he's walking a little bit more by his own choice every day so that's good.  I will try to get a better photo of him this weekend.  It's not very easy to do since everything spooks him and he always wants to be in his crate.  We'll see.

Anyway, that's all that's been up with me.  I know my posts and photos have slowed down, but that's only because I have.  I feel tired.  Keeping up with all the animal stuff, and house work, and work work, and yard work (which has been severely neglected) just equals a whole lot of work.  The animal stuff is fun, but when things aren't going right - such as with Dumplin's butt - it turns to stress quite fast, which just drains the life force out of me.  🙁  I'm hanging in there, though.  Never give up.  Never surrender.  🙂

Bat group, holy cow! I want IN! 😃

Bat group, holy cow!  I want IN!  😃

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alabama-Bat-Working-Group/108453115859843

It's been a "yard work in the dark" kind of day.

It's been a "yard work in the dark" kind of day.  Nice fire.  Still a lot more to burn.  At least I can cut part of my grass tomorrow (yay - I hate cutting grass!).  My yard is lookin' like a hobo lives here.  😳  It's so bad that someone stuck a flyer for yard work in my mailbox.  I WISH I had enough money to pay someone to do that chore.  I'm sure it won't be so bad after I get my yard landscaped... (hopefully next year).  But for now it's still a nightmare.  🙁  Yuck!

Thank you to the person...

Thank you to the person who left that cage on my porch. Happy Day to me! 🙂

Dump just pooped a turd!

Dump just pooped a turd!  It's a pale yellow, very wet turd, but that was definitely not diarrhea!  😃😃😃

Happy Day!  😃😃😃

I think I will give him a few more days before I take him to the vet.  Maybe we won't have to go.  He seems to be improving on the meds he's on.  THANK GOODNESS!  ❤

I'm running late tonight. 😳

I'm running late tonight. 😳

Time to make some opossum eggs!

Isn't this the cutest little behind ever?!

Isn't this the cutest little behind ever?!  I love how they grasp with their little tails.  It melts me!  ❤

I love this.

I love this.  I love the smashing of the lines between male / female.  I love the bending of the genders.  I love fem guys and girls with beards.  I love it that we are slowly but surely getting to a place where everyone can feel FREE to be just who they are.  ❤

Just got back from Tigers for Tomorrow...

Just got back from Tigers for Tomorrow at Untamed Mountain.  BEST DAY EVER!  I just wanted to melt into the ground and be one with everything.  Will definitely go back.  Those big babies are the coolest.  Would love to volunteer - just gotta find the time!  😃

Dang. Dumpy's diarrhea is worse.

Dang.  Dumpy's diarrhea is worse.  It smells worse and is just coming out all over.  He also visibly looks affected.  Not as energetic as before.  NOT GOOD.  🙁

Vet appointment set for 2:00 tomorrow.  This will be fixed.  My baby WILL feel better.  ❤

Well... Win felt good enough this morning...

Well... Win felt good enough this morning to let me know that he might want to eat my cat.  🙁

I was bringing him in from his potty break and Midna was in the floor.  He sniffed her.  She's not afraid of dogs so she let him.  He then did that lunge / snarl / growl thing and I instinctively snatched his leash back and yelled "ANK!"  He looked stunned to have gotten in trouble.  If he was a stray or tied out I guess he's probably never been corrected in his life.  I then crated him and covered him up.  He does bark at the cats when he has a chance so I guess that should have told me that he might not be friendly towards them later.  I kind of thought it was just an alarm thing, though.  Like, "You see those things walking around?"  He's been near them before and has never done that.  I guess I'll just put them in a different room the next time I need to let him out to be safe.

For the record Midna was not hurt.  And I doubt that will change her love of dogs.  😊

Also, on the bright side Win did feel ok enough to sort of trot around the yard today.  🙂  Today is the most I've seen him move - and the fastest.  I guess he's perking up!

That is one photogenic little opossum.

That is one photogenic little opossum.  Seriously - it doesn't even look real because he's posing so perfectly.  But, he's real.  I even got a couple of cute videos.  🙂  Those just take longer to upload.

Shaun has played with the settings on his camera so maybe the next few photos taken in my room will be a little more clear.  But not this batch.  😂  Sorry about that.

Just took Win out.

Just took Win out.  Shaun was outside doing something for me and Win was very antsy.  He kept trying to get back in the house.  Once Shaun went inside he was ok and did his business.  He's not ok with anyone extra right now.  I can't help but think that someone has been mean to him.  🙁  Maybe not... maybe he's just really used to being on his own.  But I wouldn't think that he would get so antsy if he hadn't had any bad experiences with people.

Well, my opossum babies are stirring!  I'm about to go and feed them and since Shaun's here I'll have someone able to hold a camera.  I hope I can get a cute photo or video to put up.  😃

Just fed my opossum babies again.

Just fed my opossum babies again.  Holy cow - I'm going to have to get a video of them eating.  😳  One of them grasped the nipple with his little hands.  I wanted to explode from the cuteness.  It was almost too much.  😃

In other animal news:  Win has almost normal poop again.  😃  He seems to be feeling better than he has since he got here.  He walked a bit more this afternoon than he has in days.  He doesn't like it when cars go by or anything like that.  If it's too noisy he goes straight back to the porch.  He's still very unsure of everything.  Doesn't want to be around people or new things.  That's ok.  He doesn't have to be ok with everything right now.  The fact that he's finally starting to warm up to me is enough to make my day.  🙂

I got advice from a vet today regarding Dumplin'.  Turns out that I had the medication she recommended I give him on hand [left over from my sick beardie Teal'c (still miss you, my love ❤)].  I gave him some this morning.  He gets it once a day for 10 days.  I guess it's too early to tell if it's helping him, but it certainly hasn't hurt him.  He's still his energetic, adorable self.  I think the worst part about him having diarrhea is that we can't hang out.  Like, his poor little butt has been just leaking uncontrollably so I haven't been letting him out.  There would be squirrel diarrhea everywhere.  🙁  I can't wait until I can let him out to play again.  I very much miss hangin' out with my little buddy.  🙁

I just finished building a junk opossum moat.

I just finished building a junk opossum moat.  Yeah.  A junk opossum moat.  o_O

Twice today I've gone in my garage and found a baby in the floor.  Cold and covered in cobwebs and leaves.  Both times I cleaned him off and gave him back to mama.  Neither of them seemed injured or anything... just... not where they belonged.  I'm pretty sure they'll be fine.  They seem like durable litter buggers.  🙂

Anyway, it seems that the babies that are with Little Mama are at a stage I wasn't prepared for:  The "wandering off, yet being small enough to get out of the cage" stage.  😳  NOT GOOD.  They are just fitting right between the bars!

My garage is kind of a mess (for now, not ever!).  If a baby ended up truly lost in there I'd never find it.  To make matter worse I actually have no idea how many she has.  I know I got a photo of her with what appeared to be 6, but there could have been more in her pouch.  I gave her 3 more so that's AT LEAST 9.  I haven't tried rummaging through her pouch to get a good count so I'm going to have to assume that they are all still there - seeing as how I don't have a firm number, anyway.  I kind of have a sneaking suspicion that it was the same little dude that got out both times.

Neither of them were (or he wasn't... whichever it might have been) far from the cage, thank goodness.  But I know that they CAN haul ass so that's the reason for the moat.  Now if a baby falls out he'll be in a confined space and easy to find - not lost in the vast junkiness of my garage.

Do y'all have any idea how hard it is to find things that an opossum can't climb?  They are excellent climbers.  The moat is made out of an old aquarium, a piece of wall paneling, a long cardboard box, and a piece of acrylic.  That's the best I could do with the junk I had on hand.  Thankfully, I am pretty sure it will be effective.  🙂  And maybe I won't need it for long.  They sure are growing fast!

Well, my little opossum posse is stirring and calling me.

Well, my little opossum posse is stirring and calling me.  I guess it's feeding time!  😃

Just took Win out.  He pooped for the first time since his vet visit.  It was mostly solid-ish.  He's also approaching me and sniffing me.  He still ducks away and stuff if I try to touch him at all.  Just not ready yet.  That's ok.  He's getting there.  🙂

Good morning, internet!

Good morning, internet!  I feel mostly normal-ish.  Starving and in desperate need of a shower, but I can fix those things pretty easily.

I probably wouldn't even be awake yet, but Shadow missed the bus.  I guess that's ok.  I've been wanting to get back on an earlier schedule.  🙂

Baby Opossum Yawning and Bathing

Baby Opossum Yawning and Bathing and JUST BEING ADORABLE.  🙂

This happened at work today.

This happened at work today.  That is, unfortunately, one of my coworker's cars.  Also, all of the stores on our block flooded except for us.  We all got lucky.  Except for Freda. 🙁

Internet, I feel weird. 😐

Internet, I feel weird.  😐

I did not sleep last night because I just had wayyy to much to get done.  And I like my sleep so once I'm out it's HARD to get woken up - especially if I haven't slept enough.  Sometimes just not sleeping is easier.

I got Win to the vet and back safely.  Called Shaun and he was getting ready to leave for work so I bummed a ride.  I was getting so drowsy.  It was really safer for me to not be on the road.  Usually I handle not sleeping a lot better than I did today.  I almost fell out of my chair a few times.  I felt all vibrate-y and chest-tight-y.  I think that not sleeping works out better if you've at least been well-rested in the days before you decide not to sleep.  Being really tired for days and then not sleeping just feels like a whole lotta suck.  I don't recommend doing that.  Lesson learned!

We came home from work today, I fed my babies (everyone is still doing great so far!), and then went to bed.  At 6:30 pm.  😂  I asked Shaun to call and wake me up so I could do my rounds again before I was down for the night so that's what I'm up doing.  Thought I'd check in on my social media and post updates.

I think Opossum babies are the coolest. babies. ever.  Most babies just want to nurse and fall back asleep, but not these guys.  They so want to hang out and explore.  And they can really haul ass when you startle them.  I had no idea they could move so fast at such a young age!  I'm going to have to get a video of these guys soon.  🙂

Win has not barfed or pooped since we left the vet's office this morning.  😃  The vet gave him a shot to get rid of his nausea so he could eat and keep his pills down.  The pills are supposed to kill what is making him poop and barf like that.  So far it seems to be working.  🙂  He's not eating much yet - mostly just the little pieces of weenie I give him with his pills in it.  I do hear him drinking a lot, though, and he's peeing a lot so I bet he was dehydrated from the last few days.  He's also perked up a bit.  He wants back in his crate when he's done with his bathroom break.  That's normal for him - not just laying down on the porch out in the open.  THAT had me worried.  I knew he felt really bad if he didn't even care if he was out in the open.  A sudden change in behavior is usually a sign that something's up.

Anyway, saved my little Dump for last.  🙂  He still had diarrhea last night like whoa so after much reading I decided to stop feeding him.  I put him on a 24 hour Pedialyte flush and so far that is the only thing that has stopped his little butt from oozing.  He acts like he feels fine - of course I know that most animals won't let on if they aren't feeling well, but I've been keeping a close eye on him for any sign of what's going on.  The only two possible things that I can see being the cause of his diarrhea is 1)  Too many solid foods to fast, or 2)  Nursing him too much.

At his age he's supposed to be nursing 2-3 times a day.  Ever since I cut him back to 3x a day he acts like he's STARVING to death so he wants to gorge himself at meal time.  I didn't realize that he would overeat to the point of sickness so I'm going to watch how much he gets when I introduce his formula back in the morning.

Dump is the first baby I've ever weaned aside from my man-child.  I thought I was taking it slow and doing it right, but maybe not.  I'm going to be extra-careful once he starts eating again and if he still ends up with diarrhea it will be time to get him to a vet.  There are apparently 1000 things that can cause squirrels to have diarrhea.  I'm going to try rule out / correct any mistakes I've made and go from there.

Poor baby.  He still wants to come out and run and play, but I haven't let him in days.  He likes to play on me and jump from me to my bed and over here around my computer.  I can't have him doing that with his butt leaking like it is.  He probably thinks I don't love him anymore.  But extra rest won't hurt him while he gets right.  I talk to him and pet him and stuff and play with him with his little chewy sticks.  I can't wait to have him out and running around again, though.  He's not the only one who's missing his freedom!  ❤

Just for you, Laurel. 🙂

Just for you, Laurel.  🙂  I snapped this last night when I went in to clean up and feed her.  Looks like she's got her hands full!

I don't know what's up with the scratch on her nose.  I'm gonna have to keep an eye on that.  🙁

Just got home with Win.

Just got home with Win.  He has Giardia.  And he's HW+.  Not healthy enough for shots.  He weighs a whopping 51 lbs.  (Average is 77-95 lbs).  You can't really tell from the photos because he's so fluffy, but homeboy is all bones.  🙁

As fraidy as he is he did a good job being out today.  They did muzzle him at the vet's office and he was so pitiful after that.  He just put his head in my lap.  I guess we're better friends than I thought.  🙂  After as many times as I cleaned up after him last night, we should be bros.

Oh my gosh. Win is throwing up now. He looks miserable. 🙁

Oh my gosh.  Win is throwing up now.  He looks miserable.  🙁

I guess that's one way to get out of cleaning up more poop.  Haha, universe.  That's real funny.

It's 3:30 in the morning.  I am seriously considering just not sleeping.  Just not sleeping and having him at the vet before anyone else gets there.  Kind of sounds like a plan to me.  😳

I need to bring Win back in.

I need to bring Win back in.  I'm just not extremely into cleaning up more feces if he has another accident.  🙁

Also, social media has no feelings to describe me.  How about a smiley for "worn out"?

So... I started cleaning up and making my rounds...

So... I started cleaning up and making my rounds and I smelled something.  Something bad.  I went to check on Win and he's had diarrhea in his crate... and surrounding areas... AGAIN.  🙁  I just got it all cleaned up.  I'm about to go and take him some canned pumpkin mixed with wet dog food.  He's just chilling out by my porch.  Tied, of course.  He usually wants right back in.  I feel that him laying out there is weird and it makes me uneasy.  I hope that he's ok.  We might go to the vet tomorrow.  With or without the "Ok" from the rescue.  😳

I have to stop procrastinating.

I have to stop procrastinating.  I've got babies to feed, mamas to feed, and dogs to walk / tuck in.  I guess I'd better get to it.

Goodnight, internet.  I miss you.  ❤

What a day. 😳

What a day.  😳

Got up this morning and Shadow was sick.  Well, he coughed and blew his nose all night last night so it's not like that was a huge surprise.  OTC meds weren't helping so mom took him to the doctor for me.  Thanks, Mom!  He's got a pretty bad sinus infection.  I'm prone to them so I know how much they suck.  I hope he feels better soon.

After mom picked up Shadow I dropped off my Nappy Tasha at Shelby's for a haircut.  I knew she was a mess.  It's gonna take another session with Shelby before I get a Naked Tasha back.  That's ok.  I just want my baby to be comfortable.  🙂  Less smelly is good, too.  😛

I was late for work even though I got up fairly early.  I don't know how it happened, but it did.  I feel like I'm moving in slow motion all the time lately.  🙁

Since Shadow was in Munford with my mom I went there after work to get him.  Then I went to Shelby's for Nappy.  That put me getting home a good bit later than usual.  Most of the time that's not a problem.  But... today it was.  For Win.  🙁

He pooped all in his crate.  Anyone ever dealt with a wormy dog's shit?  Not fun.  He also peed out of it.  Had I not had him covered with a blanket, he would have made an even bigger mess in the floor.  He barely missed my couch and peed on a few things that I would have preferred not get peed on.  😐

Note to self:  Leave nothing near a dog crate.  😳  I knew not to leave anything close enough that they could pull it through the bars, but I never thought about them peeing out.  Lesson learned.

I don't blame him.  If he can't hold it - he can't hold it.  I just wasn't thinking he was much of an issue Mr. "I'm not coming out of my crate for 24 hours and just watch me hold it for that long."  I'm guessing that what changed there is that he's eating now.  I bet he wasn't eating much in the shelter and now he's calm enough to eat so he's making more poop.  Message received.

Still waiting to hear back from the rescue about getting him vetted.  If I don't hear back I'm taking him Friday no matter what.  They can just pay me back.  He needs to be seen about and Saturdays are just too busy and crowded.  It's time to do this!

Anyway, I'm gonna eat some pizza rolls (love me some pizza rolls lately!) and then feed the babies.  Gonna medicate Dumplin', too.  He's still got diarrhea like WHOA.  Thankfully, my baby opossums are doing great and Little Mama and her batch seem to be doing well.  This morning one of the babies climbed down to the bottom floor of the cage, stuck his face in the water dish, sneezed, walked around a little more, and then climbed back up to mama.  I had no idea they were so independent and mobile at such a young age.  They are crazy neat.  🙂

Words to live by. ❤

Words to live by.  ❤

I never thought I'd say this, but...

I never thought I'd say this, but... THE INTERNET IS OUT OF NIPPLES!  🙁

I was going to order some backup rehab supplies, but it seems that my favorite nipples are out of stock and sold out everywhere I've looked.  I ❤❤❤ the silicon ones that come with holes already in them.  I'm covered for now, but with the influx of new wild babies I'd like to have a few more nipples and syringes on hand.

Dang.  😐

Two of my more adventurous babies after dinner. 🙂

Two of my more adventurous babies after dinner.  🙂

Guess who just spent 15 minutes...

Guess who just spent 15 minutes coaxing a tiny turd out of a tiny little butthole.  Go ahead, guess.

THIS GIRL!  😃

I got a few more opossum babies tonight.  One of them just couldn't seem to finish her poop.  I helped!

And on that note... finally... goodnight.  ❤

🙁 One of my little orphaned opossums died last night.

🙁  One of my little orphaned opossums died last night.  She was a little girl - the only one in the bunch.  All of the buns are still hanging in there, though.  That's surprising, but good.

I had the most amazing experience last night.

I had the most amazing experience last night when I was feeding and cleaning up after Little Mama.  She was on the bottom of the cage looking for food.  It's one of the first times I've caught her not in the hammock so I decided to change it out so I could wash the other one.  Well the t-shirt from her shivery night was still in it, but I thought nothing of it and started un-tying an arm of the sweatshirt that I'd hung up to be her hammock.

Shortly after I began un-tying the sleeve the t-shirt moved and out climbed one of her babies.  Little One climbed all the way up the arm of the sleeve and to my hand.  I just froze.  Baby sniffed my hand and just looked at me.  I petted him on the back and he just let me.  I guess that satisfied his curiosity so he climbed back down into his t-shirt.

HOW COOL WAS THAT?!

Those little guys are surprisingly mobile.  I'd seen them climbing around on mama, but I didn't know they would just go all over the place.  I thought they would be more timid, but so far they are not.  When I was feeding my orphans last night they were crawling out of their box all over me.  They are so fricking adorable.  They have giant little baby heads!  I don't even know how they can keep from falling over!  😂

Also, opossum-related I'm going to give Little Mama a few of my new babies.  They can have up to 13, and I'm pretty sure she's only got a hand-full.  I have 6 orphans so if she could take half that would help me a lot since I do have to work to support them all.  😂  And I'm sure the babies would be better off with a real mama - not just some human doing the best she can.  They were doing the little sneezy call last night so I know they miss their real mama.  🙁  Poor sweet things.  ❤

I am finding it to be rather convenient...

I am finding it to be rather convenient that most baby bunnies have a white spot on their head.  Perfect for coloring with a marker to tell them apart.  🙂

MOAR opossums.

MOAR opossums.

Is it spring?

Buns in a box.

Buns in a box.

The good:

The good:  Just took Win out for an afternoon potty break.  He did not hesitate to come out of his crate this time.  😃  I also noticed him looking at me more.  I feel like he's thinking about being ok with me / trying to figure me out.  Not going to push my luck (or him), but I think he's thinking about it.  I'll take it.  🙂

The not so good:  I just spilled the juice out of a Vienna weenie can all over the place.  A BIG can.  😳  Yay for being clumsy!

And yes I've been tossing him a piece of weenie whenever he's about to have to interact with me.  I want him to associate me with tasty yummy things.  Or something.  😛  I will bribe him into liking me if I have to!

Got a squirrel sleeping in my hood.

Got a squirrel sleeping in my hood. I knew it was only a matter of time. 😂

Walked Win just a few minutes ago.

Walked Win just a few minutes ago.  MUCH easier with that long lead already on him.  He hesitated when coming out of his crate, but no growling this time.  🙂  He actually walked around for a bit longer outside.  He usually acts as though he doesn't want to move at all so that is a bit of good news.  🙂

He peed a bunch and pooped.  Poor boy DEFINITELY has worms.  I was planning to take him to the vet today, but they are always crammed on the weekends.  Didn't feel that it was a great idea to take him into a noisy vet's office crammed with people and other animals with him being as scared as he is.  🙁  I will plan on taking him this week and being there when they open so we can get in and get out fast.  I think that is a MUCH better idea.  Maybe in that time he'll get more used to me and see that I don't plan to hurt him so he'll be less nervous.  I can hope!  🙂

So it appears that one of my family members...

So it appears that one of my family members who I'm angry about over the dog situation has deleted and blocked me.  She said she was tired of being bitched at for not being perfect.  And also thinks I'm wrong for being more concerned over the dog than my niece's feelings about giving the dog up to a good home.  Well, you know what?  Children need to learn how to handle disappointment and loss.  You can't protect them from it forever.  And you shouldn't - especially at the expense of the quality of life of someone else - even a dog.  ANIMALS ARE NOT TOYS.  THEY ARE ALSO NOT DISPOSABLE.

She says that the dog will be well-cared for by another family member.  We'll see.  I do drive through Munford on occasion.  First time I see her in the road she comes back here and she'll disappear so fast no one will be able to track her down.  I will do what I should have done the first time I saw her in the street.  That's a promise.

For any of you family members still reading I know you all haven't deleted and blocked me so I know you can see this.  I'm not EVEN trying to hide my feelings.  I can't believe how you all lied to me and let me down.  I am so disappointed in you all.  I will NEVER put another living being in your care again.  EVER.

Other than that, there's Dumplin'.

Other than that, there's Dumplin'.  And guess what's up with him.  Go ahead.  Any ideas?  Little baby has diarrhea.  🙁  EVERYTHING that was in his cage is in the washing machine right now.  He's getting old enough that he wants to nibble grown-up food, but I've been careful about what he gets.  He's got a piece of squirrel block in with him, I gave him a tiny bit of apple, a piece of carrot, some broccoli... once in a while he even gets a little piece of pecan.  From watching him it looks like he just grinds all this stuff up with his teeth and spits it out.  I haven't seen him EAT any of it that I can tell.  I thought all of those foods were ok, but something isn't right with him.  Thankfully, he still seems to feel great, but his butt is leaking nasty so poor baby has been in his cage all day.  🙁  I will pick some brains when I wake up to see if I can fix that for him.  🙂

In other news:

In other news:  Little Mama hasn't pooped again since her shit storm the other night.  I didn't give her a whole lot of banana, but something seems to have stopped up her back end.  I don't know... I guess it could be normal for her to not poop every day.  If she goes too much longer I'll get worried, but I'm not yet.

When I was feeding her a little bit ago I want you to know that she looked right up at me with her big beady eyes and chattered her teeth.  Didn't look like a warning to me.  It looked more like "Hey, you, with the food and the cleaning... I'm a little bit chilly out here!"  So of course I went and got her some blankets.  I put a t-shirt in the dryer and let it get a little warm (because WHO DOESN'T LOVE THAT?!), then put that over her and the babies.  Then I took a big blanket and put over most of the cage just because.  I hope she and the babies are all nice and cozy!  🙂

Is it bedtime yet? 😳

Is it bedtime yet?  😳

So I had my dog trainer friend come over and help me with Win.  I am just not very comfortable with a dog who's growling at me.  She tricked him into her slip lead with some chopped up weenies and now we've got a long leash on him that will not be removed before his transport.  It's hanging out of his crate so that I can open the door and urge him out with it.  I hope that makes things easier on us both.

I told her how things went this morning with me reaching in and him ducking to the back and hiding his head.  That is avoidance - him telling me to leave him alone.  When I didn't listen and persisted - he growled.  He was just telling me to back off the only way he knew how.  So.  I do appreciate the warnings.  Better than him just snapping on me.  I do wish he wasn't so scared, though.

OH, I can't fucking EVEN right now.

OH, I can't fucking EVEN right now.  Wow.  Next time I have a gut feeling I'm going with it - consequences be damned.  It couldn't have turned out any worse.

Part of my family found a sick puppy last year. I treated her for parvo (they paid the $100 for the shots, I did the work) and she survived. They decided that they wanted her after she was well. I wasn't too keen on giving her to them, but I did. I felt obligated because they paid for her treatment. Saw her outside of their house one day covered in ticks and wandering in and out of the road. I'm kicking my own ass right now for not picking her up and taking her then. She's had puppies and now they don't want her. I should have gone with my gut. I'm so angry. It's just really upsetting. They promised they'd take good care of her AND GET HER SPAYED. Didn't happen and now they can't be bothered with her anymore.

From the way it all sounded a lot of good intentions were floating around, but no action came into play. And here we are. My aunt did get the pups into rescue, but I still feel really betrayed and hurt. I will never give animals away like that again. Everyone will go through a rescue, or just have to fuck the fuck off. Seriously. I can't even trust my own family to do the right thing, it seems.

In other animal news:

In other animal news:  Win does not want to come out of his crate.  The one time he did willingly I'm guessing he did so because he had to pee so bad.  I have not had that kind of luck since then.  In fact he growled at me this morning for trying to take him out.  I'm thinking I'll just let him hold it until I get home and then maybe he'll be more willing to cooperate.  I feel really bad doing that, but I don't know him that well.  I don't really want to be bitten.  He still seems really nervous.  Still jumps every time I touch him.  😐

Last night when I went to check on Little Mama...

Last night when I went to check on Little Mama I found that I'd left her cage open - ALL DAY.  I must have been having a brain fart or something.  I know I was all distracted with the cleaning up of the diarrhea.

Anyway, I'm not too mad at myself over that one.  The garage is pretty safe.  If she'd gotten out there wouldn't have been anything that could hurt her in there.  She couldn't have left the garage or anything, either.

Funny thing was it didn't look like she'd left the cage.  And if she did she'd decided to come back to it.  Maybe she's enjoying her little vacation.

Also, she didn't have diarrhea this morning.  She'd peed, but no poop at all.  She was just sleeping hard with her babies when I went in.  She didn't even wake up to notice me.  Or she didn't let on if she did.  🙂

Went to check on Little Mama.

Went to check on Little Mama.  One of the babies was out WALKING on her.  🙂  It was so adorable.  If I'd had my camera and not been up to my elbows in opossum diarrhea I would have TOTALLY taken a picture.

The first day here her poop was solid black and there were some hard parts, but some of it was soft.  The last couple of days it has been firm and brown.  Today, there was poop EVERYWHERE.  It wasn't just water diarrhea, but it was soft and she obviously got it all over her.  🙁

The only thing I did different was give her a small, SMALL piece of banana with her dinner yesterday.  Maybe that was my mistake.  I wonder if canned pumpkin will help harden her poops back up...  I know it works on dogs.

Kim, April, John, Janet, Beth - any suggestions?

Win willingly came out of his crate this morning! 😃

Win willingly came out of his crate this morning! 😃

Went to feed Little Mama and she's in her hammock, again.

Went to feed Little Mama and she's in her hammock, again.  Or still.  😂  She hadn't pottied and her water was still full.  Every time I checked on her before now there had been no food or water left.  I'm guessing she had been in that pipe and missed out on food and hydration for a couple of days, at least.  Maybe she's finally leveling out now.  🙂

In other animal news if anyone is doing any spring cleaning I could definitely use some old blankets, towels, and sweatshirts right now.  If anyone wants to meet me with stuff like that just send me a message or leave me a comment.  You can also drop off stuff at work until about 5 pm, Monday - Friday.  If nothing turns up I'll hit the thrift stores, but I thought I'd shake you all down before I went shopping.  😉

Win is so timid that he didn't want to come out of his crate.

Win is so timid that he didn't want to come out of his crate.  He laid all the way down as if to say "Please don't make me."  🙁  After a walk where he peed a TON I finally got him to eat a little bit.  I gave him some plain chicken I had left over from dinner.  That seemed to awaken his appetite some.

He came back in the house and wanted to go into hiding again.  He's in his crate now.  I've got it covered up like a cave.  I hope that makes him more comfortable.

His eyes are alert and soulful, but I can tell he feels so run down.  He just doesn't want to move.  He doesn't want to be bothered - not even for a walk, but he is SO SWEET about it.  He just looks away, tries to hide, or lays flat.

He also jumps every time I touch him.  🙁  That breaks my heart.  I'm trying to be very careful not to sneak up on him.  I don't want to cause him any extra stress.  Poor guy.  ❤

New foster boy. Named "Win" by Christopher.

ADOPTED 05/17/13 - New foster boy.  Named "Win" by Christopher.  This photo was taken at the CCACC when I was there picking him up.  He's very timid right now.  When I brought him home he went and curled up under my coffee table and hid.  Poor guy.  🙁

I am planning to get him to the vet this weekend.  He's all bones, not really into food.  I hope he starts feeling better soon!  ❤

Heading back to work.

Heading back to work.  Just picked up a boy from CCACC.  Today was his last day.  Thank you, Christopher, for contacting me.  Glad I could help.  🙂

He's a timid sweetheart.  I hope to see him blossom in the short time I'll have him.

Priority #1:  Put some meat on those bones and get him healthy.  He's a skeleton wearing a fur coat.  🙁

Little Mama this morning - and babies!

Little Mama this morning - and babies!  How many are there?  I don't even know.  I feel like I definitely see 5, but maybe the ear of a 6th?

This is how I found her this morning when I went to clean up / feed her.  She's eating everything I give her and drinking a lot, too.  I honestly feel like she's not too upset about being confined and fed.

Dogs wearing panty hose.

Dogs wearing panty hose.  That's a thing now.  Go ahead, Google it.  😂

Who comes up with this stuff?

Just went to feed Little Mama.

Just went to feed Little Mama.  Her whole stomach area was moving and occasionally squeaking.  I really wonder how many babies she has in there!

P. S.  When I went to check on her this morning she was sleeping in the sweatshirt hammock I made for her.  SWEET!  🙂

Little Mama has been relocated to my garage.

Little Mama has been relocated to my garage.  This is not an ideal setup (still, unfortunately) but it's the largest enclosure I've got that is not already occupied.  Also, it will be quieter out there and it's nice and cool (but not cold).  The perspective doesn't really show it, but she's got more floor space and also that pink thing to the left is a make-shift hammock.  I'm hoping that she'll sleep in it rather than pooping on the puppy pad and then rolling up in it.  🙁  I've read that opossums like to poop in water so I might have to make her a toilet.  I can get my shallow dish from Shaun's yard tomorrow if I need to.

She's still terribly dirty and that bothers me.  I don't want to risk stressing her or hurting the babies by bathing her, though.

To move her I put on some rubber dishwashing gloves... mostly because I didn't want to stick my hands in anything gross.  I think at this point she's realized that I'm a friend because she didn't growl or even open her mouth at me.  Home girl should know she's special - I cooked dinner for her, but not my own son!  😂  Nah, we did share some pizza rolls so that counts.  😃

If anyone is curious she's got a scrambled egg with spinach, some fresh veggies, yogurt, and then leftover fried rice.  And a big bowl of cold water.

Oh my gosh. I've just become a squirrel napkin. 😂

Oh my gosh.  I've just become a squirrel napkin.  😂

Dump was playing with his syringe so I thought he might be hungry.  I turned it around and put it to his mouth and got some milk on him.  He promptly shook his head - flinging the drop of milk all over us both - and then proceeded to wipe his little face on my pants.  Repeatedly.

I guess that's what I get.  😃

Pardon my dirty, broken, straight-from-the-70's floor.

Pardon my dirty, broken, straight-from-the-70's floor.  I have a new floor to put down - just haven't had the time.

This is Dump playing on my pants.  Yes, I'm wearing snow pants in April.  Leave me alone.  😛  The point of this photo is not my floor or my pants.  Look how big my baby is getting!  😃

He has now discovered Shaun's cargo short's pockets.  That's funny.  😃

Animal Stuff:

Animal Stuff:

Dumplin' is SO BIG.  His tail is all floofed out now and he's going all over the place.  Jumping, running, wrestling - looking and acting like a real squirrel.  😂  He's funny.  He's only nursing about 3 times a day and is trying to explore EVERYTHING with his mouth.  I've got a cute video of him playing with a hair tie.  It's on Shaun's phone so I'll have to get him to send it to me.

Also, Little Mama, the opossum, has a good little bunch of babies.  I didn't want to disturb her just to get a count, but she's got a good hand full.  😍  I did not release her last night.  When I was moving her into a larger space I noticed that she's got worms so she'll stay with me until I can get her all clear.  Hopefully, I can also get some meat on her bones and get an idea of how healthy the babies are.  I'm going to move her to the garage tonight.  It will be much quieter and I think she'll appreciate that.

Also, Dumplin' says:  "0

                                        ZEEEEEEED"

He was very adamant about stomping on my keyboard for some reason.  I guess he had things to say.  😛

Little Mama has eaten and drank!

Little Mama has eaten and drank!  At some point over the night she must have felt that it was ok.  She is also a lot more feisty.  I think that I would feel ok about releasing her tonight.  🙂

So... my uneventful Saturday changed.

So... my uneventful Saturday changed.

My friend Sherri sent me a message saying that an opossum with babies was trapped in a pipe at her work.  The cops nor the fire department would come out until Monday.  🙁  That was just not good enough so I went to see what I could do.

The pipe was long and kind of narrow.  It was longer than my arm and I was pretty sure I could not reach her.  I took the towel I'd brought and cut it into strips and dropped it down thinking she'd climb up.  I know it wasn't a long time, but I waited quietly for an hour and she never came.  So, I started to get worried that she was really stuck.

I put on a glove that Sherri had in her car and tried to reach down.  I could barely brush her nose with my hand and only because she was smiling up at me.  Anyone who knows about opossums knows that they are usually gonna open their mouth real big and show you all of their teeth.  What most people don't seem to understand is that it's all show.

I felt like I was running out of options so I did the only logical thing I could think of:  I stuck my hand in her mouth.  When I found her top fangs I put my thumb over her nose and tried to pull.  She barely budged.  🙁  I wanted to cry.

We tried few other things to get her out, but nothing worked.  So I mustered up my balls and reached in again.  I braced myself against the ground, stuck my hand in her mouth, and PULLED.  Slow, but firm.  And I got her.  😃

I feel really shaken because I felt like I had to be hurting her, but I'm surely not as shaken as she is.

She is resting now in a cat carrier inside my bathroom.  I've given her a towel and some wet cat food and water.  She needs to be warm and get dry and just rest.  I don't know how long she was down there, but I'm gonna hold on to her for a few days and make sure she and the baby (or babies!) are ok.

Speaking of babies - I was really concerned that I might have lost a few down the pipe so I went all MacGyver on this shit and rigged a mirror on a pole to make sure I couldn't see anyone else down there.  As far as I could tell the pipe is now empty.  I would NOT have been able to sleep tonight if I hadn't checked.

P. S.  I'm not saying that anyone should go and test this out, but when I put my hand in her mouth she turned her head.  She did NOT bite me.  This scared, hungry, damp mama opossum did NOT bite me.  They are so docile.  They get such a bad wrap because they are convincing actors, but seriously, please don't ever hurt one.  They wouldn't hurt you.

I do believe I was just accused...

I do believe I was just accused of stealing a piece of apple.  😂😂😂

Dumplin' was nomming on some apple and dropped it in the floor.  First thing he did:  He came to inspect MY hands.  😂  I'd better go and get him another piece!

Well...

Well, the Shaun ❤ has plans that I'm not interested in tonight and most of my friends live far away.  Sometimes that's really a bummer.  🙁

On the bright side I just got rid of extra kid (shoulda seen the look I got from his mother when I pulled up in the driveway) and I have a new nail thing I want to try.  Guess I'm gonna have a low-key Saturday evening doing some light cleaning, nail stuff, and Netflix watching.  Hey - at least they have Adult Swim on there now.  FUCK YES!  😃

I can't even believe the phone call I got earlier.

I can't even believe the phone call I got earlier.

It was the mom of one of Shadow's friends.  This kid comes over pretty often and he's ok so I don't really mind.  But - I've said it a thousand times and here it is again:  I'm not a kid person and I don't really like kids.  Nope - not any of them.  My son is ok because he's good - and if he's not I have the authority to fix that.  I can handle most well-behaved children in short bursts, but after that I'm done.  Take it away, please.  Yes, seriously.  Not interested and not into it.

Moving on.

So this woman called me and wanted to know why I never let her son stay the whole weekend when he calls and asks if he can spend the night.  And I told her, "Well, I get stressed out with extra people in my house so even though he's good I'm not into having him all weekend.  It's nothing personal."  And then she was like, "But why not?  Most people let kids stay two nights."  So I was just straight with her:  "I'm not a kid person.  I don't really like kids."

So then she called me weird and make some remark about me having one - something to the effect of "having kids is supposed to make you like kids."  And I told her, "Look, I had ONE.  And I did NOT get pregnant on purpose.  If he hadn't happened I wouldn't have any at all.  I never planned to have kids - and I'm not having anymore."

She just seemed flustered and aggravated and asked again if he could stay the whole weekend.  I told her I didn't know... that I'd come and get him after work and that he could stay tonight and we'd see about the rest.  It's not like I don't have other plans that don't consist of watching her child.

So this kid calls me just about every weekend, but I'm not into having an extra child all weekend, every weekend.  I let him come over every other weekend for one night at the most.  I mean, his parents NEVER offer to drop him off or pick him up.  They got annoyed when they moved 30 minutes away and I'd ask them to meet me somewhere with him.  One night I waited for an hour in Wal-Mart for them to show up.  I mean - you want me to watch your kid?  How about you make it convenient, for fucks sake?  Also, they never invite Shadow over.  EVER.  So there's zero reciprocation.

It's not like I don't understand.  I'm pretty low-income due to the fact that I run this household by myself, but I don't think either of his parents work (not regularly, anyway), so they don't have gas money or anything like that, usually.  Also, they have 6 or 7 kids.  No joke.  A whole fucking pack of children.  I understand wanting to get rid of one, but hey - it's not my problem that she hasn't figured out what causes pregnancy yet.  If she didn't want 6 or 7 kids around all the time then maybe she shouldn't have had so many.  I do not feel the urge to be her free weekend babysitter.  Every time I'm really nice and go out of my way she always offers me the other little boy, too.  Oh, but she doesn't ask.  No, she sends him up to me with his sad little boy eyes to ask if he can come with us.  I let him Trick-or-Treat with us the year before last, but every time after that I've stood my ground.  There's no fucking way I'm taking a younger child, too.  I think she finally got the picture because little dude hasn't asked if he could tag along in quite a while.

HUFF.  😳

I'm just bitching.  I needed to get that off my chest.  If you want to have an ass-ton of kids then more power to you.  But don't fucking act like other people are weird for not wanting them.  That's just not right.  I'm aware of how babies are made so if I feel the need to have a child in my house besides Shadow I can make my own.  I don't need to borrow anyone else's.  Damn.

Squirrel-like reflexes

Squirrel-like reflexes = jumping into the trash can when you hear a sudden sound.

😂  Poor Dumplin'.  Being a baby is hard.

Anyone feel like captioning this?

Anyone feel like captioning this?

I love how Shaun looks increasingly more terrified until the last two photos.  😂😂😂

And yep - that's our little Dumplin'.  He's getting BIG!  😃

So I was walking...

So I was walking... seems simple enough, right?  But I was carrying a box of cinnamon sticks in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.  I guess that complicates things a bit.

Well I needed to get through a gate, but rather than put all the stuff down and move it with my hands I decided to step my short little self over it.  THAT... well - that didn't go as planned.  I hit the floor, HARD, on both knees.  It's just concrete under that linoleum.  I'm betting I'll have some nice bruises to show for that tomorrow.  😛

Also... poor Emma.  She is the one who ended up wearing my tea.  She shortly thereafter went in her crate.  I guess she thought she was in trouble if I was being mean enough to splash tea all over her.  😂

Winnie! 😃

Winnie!  😃

Who knew pretty girls could be smart?

(Where is the sarcasm font when you need it?  LOL)

Took my car to the Kia store.

Took my car to the Kia store.  Got a free inspection with my oil change.  OF COURSE they found a bunch of stuff that needed fixing, but I didn't expect the car to be perfect.  They printed quotes for me on all the work, (complete with the part numbers I'll need - VERY handy!) so I've been Googling.  Of course their rates are much higher and include labor, but I've found everything I need so far for less than $900.  My dad and step-dad have both offered to work on the car and neither of them will let me pay them - so basically I just need to get the parts.

I haven't even looked for salvaged / used parts yet and I'm sure once I do I'll be able to get them even cheaper.  I wasn't sure what to expect when I took it in today, but I gotta say - I'm not upset.  I can't do everything at once, obviously, but I think my list is manageable.  🙂  So far I really like my car, but I've been worried that it was gonna crap out on me just because that's what I'm used to.

One thing the sales guy did mention is that since we don't know the history on the car we don't know how long the timing belt is good for.  I might refrain from driving it until I get that worked out.  According to the sales guy if it snaps while I'm driving it could warp some stuff and cause seriously expensive repairs to be needed.  So... better safe than sorry and all that.  Thank goodness my Hyundai still runs... for now!  😛

I love the internet. ❤❤❤

I love the internet.  ❤❤❤

I called from my computer (calls are FREE! through Google Voice) and got insurance on my car and had my cards that you put in the car emailed to me.  HELL YES.

Now I'm off to get a tag!  😃