Believe it or not this big, almost-grown kid...

Believe it or not this big, almost-grown kid is my baby DumpDump. He's quite a handsome little man! ❤

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.  🙂

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!  ❤

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.  ❤

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.  🙁

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!  ❤

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.  🙂

Got a squirrel sleeping in my hood.

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

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.  🙂

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.  😛

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!

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!  😃

I bet all my rehab friends knew that squirrels made sounds.

I bet all my rehab friends knew that squirrels made sounds.  I figured that they did, but I had no idea what they sounded like until Dumplin.'  He grumbles at me when I'm too slow with his food and today I heard a new one.  I put him in a larger bird cage this morning so he would have some space to explore while I got ready to go see my parents, but he kept clinging to the sides nearest where I was and making a sound.  Can't really describe it, but I got the distinct feeling that he was calling me.  So, I opened the cage and let him out and now he's crawling around in my lap.  I think someone was a little bit scared of his new surrounding so back to the old one for now.  When I get home I'll reintroduce him to it and hang out next to it so he won't be afraid.  I really thought he'd take right to it because he's become so mobile, but maybe he's still not quite ready.  I read that they don't leave the nest until 12 weeks.  He's not that old just yet.

Bad Blu.  How dare I freak the baby out like that.  😂

Aaand, I guess he's over it.  He's taking a bath now.  Haha.

OMG. Dumplin' is passed out in my lap. On his back. 😳

OMG.  Dumplin' is passed out in my lap.  On his back.  😳

It's melting me.  When will I learn to keep my camera in arm's reach?!?

Despite me buying plenty of chewies...

Despite me buying plenty of chewies for the Dumplin', he's all about nibbling on my zippers and fingernails.  Bad little boy.  🙂

Never seen such a fat belly on a baby squirrel.

Never seen such a fat belly on a baby squirrel.  Was late getting home so he was wasting away - into NOTHING.  He ate SO much to make up for it, though.  😂

My little Dumpy is getting so big!  🙂