Quickie... (Part 2)

I'd like to put it out there (and NO, this is not an open invitation to start flinging animals my way) that I'm down to 20 of my own + a foster dog. Nick finally took his hedgehog the other day, my last mouse died, and I did something I've never done before: I sent an animal away that I'd planned to keep. Fostering is one thing... I've done that a few times. But when I have plans to keep an animal I will usually keep them no matter what. If there are issues I'll train them or work around it somehow. But that just didn't happen this time and I can't say that I didn't try.

We have a kitten named Midna and she's a good girl. I went to my mom's and picked up one of her cats, Twilight, to keep Midna company (Midna was SO playful that she was driving me nuts!) Twilight had been outside all of her life, although she was only 5 or 6 weeks old - the same age as Midna. Well, this cat had litter box issues from the start. We cleaned the box every day and that didn't work. So I bought another one and that didn't work. So I confined her and I just felt bad about it. But it didn't work either. Not only that, but she wouldn't stay off the table or counters and she never cleaned her butt. She smelled TERRIBLE.

After the last few months of her peeing in my shoes, any available Wal-Mart bag, Shadow's bed, the floor, and the carpet, she finally peed on the love seat that I'd just steam cleaned. And that was the last straw. I really think that that cat might have been mentally stunted because she just made no progress in all the time she was here. I have a spray bottle that I squirt them with to keep them off the table and counters and Midna just won't go up there anymore. But Twilight would no matter what. I just really think she would be more suited to live outdoors and she can't do that here. I live too close to the road. So I sent her back to my mother's house. Shadow and Midna are taking it pretty well, (Midna seems happy, even), but I feel guilty. I've never just given up on an animal like that. Not even when Emma ripped up my floor and I was furious over that.

Well, Midna just jumped up in my lap and smells surprisingly sweet. I want to lick her, but I won't. I might try to find out what she's been into, though. I might be up for rolling around in it, too. 😛 Laters.

Octavious the Midnight Cowboy

I have sad news. Octavious the Midnight Cowboy passed away last night. He'd been sick for a week or so and we tried our best to get him well. I didn't realize it until lots of reading over the last few days, but hedgehogs are prone to SO many illnesses. At first we thought he may have had a bacterial infection so we washed him. That didn't work. Then we thought maybe he was having a food allergy and switched his food, but that did no good, either. Over the weekend we gave him Pedialyte (recommendation from a vet), but his condition got much worse, very fast - despite our best efforts. I found a vet over the weekend who'd seen hedgehogs before and was planning to take him for a visit today, but he didn't make it. I'm really sad and it's in the back of my mind that somehow I should've done more for him. Hedgies can get sick in so many ways... from mild things like allergies and sinus infections to tumors, cancer, and the wobbly disease.

*sigh* I hate to say it, but it's almost a relief that he's gone. He looked SO miserable and pitiful and I really don't think a vet could've helped him by the time I found one that could see him. I hate to see an animal suffer. For anyone who's curious we're keeping him... he's off to be cremated today and after that he'll have his very own spot above our fireplace. I don't know what more to say other than that he will be missed. Rest in peace, Tavi. You were a sweet fella.

It's Monday & I'm pooped.

Well, I hope to keep this one kind of short so I'll just get to it. Thursday I had to pick up Shadow from school because he was sick and that's pretty much lasted until now. Over the weekend he seemed to get better with a little TLC and Tylenol so I sent him to school today and ended up having to go get him again. 😐 I took him to the doctor and he had a temp of 102.8°F and strep throat. 😕

He had to get a shot. Ya know he's 6 years old, but that still doesn't stop me from getting all teary-eyed when they have to do that. It sucks. 🙁 Also I felt really bad for him already because one day this weekend I closed the car door on his head. He knows not to get out of his seat belt until he's told to do so and we were in a parking lot about to get out and a car was trying to park right by me so I closed the door... Unfortunately, Shadow had decided to stand up and stick his head out right about then. I didn't see him until it was too late. 😭

He has a bruise and that's all. I felt terrible (and will probably have nightmares for a while), but that's just one more reason why kids should listen to their parents. I probably could've killed him if I'd closed it harder and I told him so. I don't think he'll be doing that again. I truly hope not.

Anyway, since he was sick this weekend he slept a lot. So I had time to get one more room sort of situated. It's the front room - the room you walk into when you come in the front door. We have a lot of the animals in there and I think it looks pretty nice. It could still use a little work, but it's fine for now. So... that leaves 3 rooms to finish. They will probably not be completed anytime soon.

On to the pics.

This is our porch type area. I like it out there. 😄

If you look to the left after you walk in this is what you'll see. (It's where the gliders and the parakeet live).

If you keep looking around you'll see Shadow's desk (complete with a hedgehog on top )(who, btw, is rather cuddly - or at least tries to be). 😍

The chameleons' fancy setup.

And finally: the mantle with a bunch of random stuff on it such as: the Matrix box-thing, a lamp, and a shark fin and hand print that Shadow made, and his cap & gown pic. SO cute!! 😁

And that's pretty much that room. It's not perfect, but it's better than being crammed full of ugly boxes and stuff. I'm pleased... at least for now. 😄 And exhausted so I'ma go. LOVE!!!

bittersweetness, from :( to :)

So... I was a little weird yesterday. No big surprise there, I guess. I didn't feel very good... in fact, I felt really bad (as in sick). I didn't want to do anything at all, so me, Nick, and Shadow decided we'd all relax and watch a movie. We put in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and for some reason I cried through like, the first half. I cried at the little crooked house, I cried at the cute li'l old man, I cried when people wanted to buy the kid's ticket off him, I cried at how utterly strange Willy Wonka looked, I cried when all of the little kids were assholes... damn. That's not all, either - just what I can remember. I didn't think that was supposed to be a sad movie. Really, I think it was more just me and my state of mind. I do that pretty frequently, (get really emotional). A lot of times I laugh or cry sort of uncontrollably. Lately (although it hasn't always been the case) it's been more laughing than anything, but I guess I can't expect to always be jolly - especially when physically I feel like crap. Overall I liked the movie, though. Especially the end. 

As bad as I felt I think last night was pretty good. I was a complete baby, and Nick patiently took care of me. He's more and more awesome every day. Shadow was really sweet, also... he told me I didn't have to read him a bed time story if I was sick. I don't think he could understand how much I appreciated that last night. Also, the little hedgehog sounds coming from the little castle in her tank were so adorable... I just love that thing. She's awesome. I love how friendly she is. I hate to say it, but I want one of my own and so does Shadow... and it's so hard to resist buying more. I really can't right now, though. I mean, I could, but I shouldn't. ...um, THE END.

HEDGEHOG PICS!!!

Yep... the name says it all! 😁

Aren't they adorable??? I love the little sounds they make and the little snot bubbles they blow... awww!!! Nick's seems to be the more sociable one at the moment... she's very active and friendly. Steph's just kind of stays balled up... the more we played with him last night the more relaxed he seemed, though. It's a big adjustment for the both of them so I understand. All in all the three of us are really pleased with them... not to mention Shadow. He was so excited, too. He wants to get one and name it Sonic. Yeah... not very original, but hey - he's five. So whatever. 😂 I don't know that he'll be getting one... I really need to be getting a bigger place if I plan to keep this up. (Which doesn't sound too bad to me ). But anyhoo, I stray. There's our new babies. Enjoy the pics!

<3!
Blu

I must be crazy... NEW PET(S). :D

Yeah... yeah, I did it again. New pets. More. AND I'M SO DAMN EXCITED! Really neither of them were for me, but that doesn't matter. One's gonna live with me and the other is gonna visit, so... anyway, here's the story.

Ok, Nick has been wanting a hedgehog FOREVER. Every time we visit the pet store that's what he talks about (among other things, but that mainly). So me, him, and Steph went there today and I wanted to see one out of the cage because I was curious. So of course they took it out and then it ROLLED UP IN A BALL. OMG!!! I didn't know they really did that! I was hooked. I had to buy it. So Nick got a hedgehog. She's a girl and she's adorable. Only 14 weeks old!

But things did not stop there. There was only one left and he so happened to be a man-hog and it was obvious that Steph had fallen for him so we got him, too. FOR REAL. I bought two hedgehogs today - one for Nick and one for Steph. I'm freakin' crazy. I truly believe that after today. Seriously, though... we want to see if we can get them to have little hedge-piglets and if they did I could actually make my money back and that would be pretty cool. If not - they were still worth it. They are AWESOME!!! THE END!