Showing posts with label Sheila. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheila. Show all posts
Friday, April 2, 2010
In Loving Memory
Rest in Peace Sheila, I will always love you, and miss you dearly. (12/3/06-4/1/10)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
I'm So Behind!
On Blogging that is. I have been very busy with holiday knitting, as well as the traditional holiday things, such as decorating, and getting prezzies ready to be mailed out.
So Now I have to tell you that last week I wasn't able to tell you about Sheila's 3rd Birthday! She is a very healthy girl, and happy to boot! And I am so happy that she has made it to her birthday this year. (there was a moment a few months ago I was horrified that we wouldn't be able to celebrate.) I had a big celebration for her! I thought she shouldn't have three blueberries in one night, blueberries are her treats. So instead of three in one night, I gave her one each night for three nights. And she ate them all! :)
My girl is a very happy hedgie, and I am a very happy lady to have her around! We sure enjoyed being able to celebrate her birthday.. Charlie thought it was very cool too! (He got a peak at what birthdays look like for the pets in my house!)
So Now I have to tell you that last week I wasn't able to tell you about Sheila's 3rd Birthday! She is a very healthy girl, and happy to boot! And I am so happy that she has made it to her birthday this year. (there was a moment a few months ago I was horrified that we wouldn't be able to celebrate.) I had a big celebration for her! I thought she shouldn't have three blueberries in one night, blueberries are her treats. So instead of three in one night, I gave her one each night for three nights. And she ate them all! :)
My girl is a very happy hedgie, and I am a very happy lady to have her around! We sure enjoyed being able to celebrate her birthday.. Charlie thought it was very cool too! (He got a peak at what birthdays look like for the pets in my house!)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Sheila Update
Yes I did go meet Charlie this morning and it went very well, but there will be more to post on that later. Right now I would like to update on my girl.
When we left the vet's office on Tuesday night, things weren't sounding so great. They said that they hadn't seen enough of an improvement with her over the past week and that if no drastic change for the better came about we were going to have to run some diagnostic tests on Monday when I bring her back for her final round of shots. The tests were going to be to find out if she had cancer, fatty liver disease, or anything else along those lines. My job is to keep watching her closely between the appointments and monitor her improvement.
Well I have never seen her as upset and worked up as she was Tuesday night at the Veterinary Clinic. Probably because she had realized that this was the bad place where they poke her with things and make her a little sore, and groggy. I thought she would be somewhat better when we got home, but she still wouldn't even let me touch her for a good half hour... which was fine, she stayed in her carry bag to calm down while I cleaned out her cage.
Then it was like there was a switch that flipped with her when I put her back into her cage. She ran over to her food and water, and was eating and drinking normally, then up to her wheel to run, then down to her litter for a dust bath, and then I swear that if she could smile, she looked out at me and smiled! She is back to normal! I am so relieved--granted I am still monitoring her, but so far, all is well! She has been running again every night, and eating and drinking normally, so I will have a good report to give the Dr. on Monday night when we go in, and then hopefully that will be the end of the stress for a while.
As far as the rest of the weekend goes... this weekend is Reinbeck's Wool festival, and I will be attending with several people from my knitting group. I originally was not going to allow myself to spend any money there, but then my mom, and several other people pointed out to me that if I find something that I love I am going to regret not purchasing it, so I am going with the mindset that I have a limit, and I can only use it on things that I LOVE! Then after the day of shopping all the vendors, and checking out all the cool wooly fun, we are going to an after-party. I'm not sure exactly what all this will entail, but I will be sure to post on it soon! Other than that Sunday I am going to a friends 25th birthday dinner and just running errands earlier in the day.. maybe taking a nap, or just lounging about the house with pj's on and my knitting in my hands :)
Have a great weekend!
When we left the vet's office on Tuesday night, things weren't sounding so great. They said that they hadn't seen enough of an improvement with her over the past week and that if no drastic change for the better came about we were going to have to run some diagnostic tests on Monday when I bring her back for her final round of shots. The tests were going to be to find out if she had cancer, fatty liver disease, or anything else along those lines. My job is to keep watching her closely between the appointments and monitor her improvement.
Well I have never seen her as upset and worked up as she was Tuesday night at the Veterinary Clinic. Probably because she had realized that this was the bad place where they poke her with things and make her a little sore, and groggy. I thought she would be somewhat better when we got home, but she still wouldn't even let me touch her for a good half hour... which was fine, she stayed in her carry bag to calm down while I cleaned out her cage.
Then it was like there was a switch that flipped with her when I put her back into her cage. She ran over to her food and water, and was eating and drinking normally, then up to her wheel to run, then down to her litter for a dust bath, and then I swear that if she could smile, she looked out at me and smiled! She is back to normal! I am so relieved--granted I am still monitoring her, but so far, all is well! She has been running again every night, and eating and drinking normally, so I will have a good report to give the Dr. on Monday night when we go in, and then hopefully that will be the end of the stress for a while.
As far as the rest of the weekend goes... this weekend is Reinbeck's Wool festival, and I will be attending with several people from my knitting group. I originally was not going to allow myself to spend any money there, but then my mom, and several other people pointed out to me that if I find something that I love I am going to regret not purchasing it, so I am going with the mindset that I have a limit, and I can only use it on things that I LOVE! Then after the day of shopping all the vendors, and checking out all the cool wooly fun, we are going to an after-party. I'm not sure exactly what all this will entail, but I will be sure to post on it soon! Other than that Sunday I am going to a friends 25th birthday dinner and just running errands earlier in the day.. maybe taking a nap, or just lounging about the house with pj's on and my knitting in my hands :)
Have a great weekend!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sheila's Second Round of shots...
Tonight Sheila and I will be making another trip to the veterinary clinic so that she can receive her second round of shots. I don't think that she is probably too happy about this, considering her strong dislike for car rides, but she will have to go anyhow.
She is not quite acting herself, and before I thought she was drinking more water than normal, now it seems like she is drinking very little water... and it doesn't look like the level of her food is going down much. Although she has eaten a blueberry from me every night when I've had her out. Who knows, I'm sure I'm just overreacting a bit, and worrying about her.
I'm sure they will tell me if anything has changed for the better or worse in the last week.
In the meantime, I did talk to the adoption specialist on the phone yesterday afternoon, and she had all the right answers for me. So while I am at the vet's office tomorrow, I am picking up an adoption form to look over. Then on Friday I am going to meet Charlie very early in the morning.
The good news about him is that although he has had to have surgery on both of his hips, the doctor said that there is no sign of Charlie needing surgery due to the same issues, that it was taken care of in the previous surgery. The bad news is that the family that used to own him claimed that he had fallen down a flight of stairs, although with his timidness and the way he gets nervous around children, the adoption specialist thinks that the children of the family may have abused him, and that he was probably pushed down the stairs as apposed to falling. Then the family gave him up so that they wouldn't have to pay for the surgeries.
Despite his less than charming past, he seems to be in good health, and should be a great fit for me. As long as he likes me when I go to meet him this Friday. Then I will make my decision after that.
For now, I am hoping for the best with My Sheila, and I will keep you posted on both of these 4-legged babes.
She is not quite acting herself, and before I thought she was drinking more water than normal, now it seems like she is drinking very little water... and it doesn't look like the level of her food is going down much. Although she has eaten a blueberry from me every night when I've had her out. Who knows, I'm sure I'm just overreacting a bit, and worrying about her.
I'm sure they will tell me if anything has changed for the better or worse in the last week.
In the meantime, I did talk to the adoption specialist on the phone yesterday afternoon, and she had all the right answers for me. So while I am at the vet's office tomorrow, I am picking up an adoption form to look over. Then on Friday I am going to meet Charlie very early in the morning.
The good news about him is that although he has had to have surgery on both of his hips, the doctor said that there is no sign of Charlie needing surgery due to the same issues, that it was taken care of in the previous surgery. The bad news is that the family that used to own him claimed that he had fallen down a flight of stairs, although with his timidness and the way he gets nervous around children, the adoption specialist thinks that the children of the family may have abused him, and that he was probably pushed down the stairs as apposed to falling. Then the family gave him up so that they wouldn't have to pay for the surgeries.
Despite his less than charming past, he seems to be in good health, and should be a great fit for me. As long as he likes me when I go to meet him this Friday. Then I will make my decision after that.
For now, I am hoping for the best with My Sheila, and I will keep you posted on both of these 4-legged babes.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sheila Is going to be fine
The Veterinarian said that she was the most handle-able hedgie she has ever had in, and that I must be a great hedgie mommy :)
She also said that although the expectant life of a hedgehog is 3-5 years and Sheila will be 3 in December, that her heart and lungs are functioning normally and she has no bumps or lesions on her tummy.. hedgies are also prone to a few different types of cancer that would cause bumps... so she is good there, and the lesions would be due to an aggressive parasite of some sort. She was losing her quills, but because she is eating normally and drinking normally... they think she is fine, but the losing quills is not normal. They put her under a small amount of anesthesia so that they could get a skin scraping and check more thoroughly for bumps or lesions. Again they found nothing, so they are giving her 3 doses of medicine to treat for any parasite that she might have. She got the first one from the vet yesterday and will get the next 2 within the next 2-3 weeks.
I will say that I was worried sick, and driving myself insane, so I am glad that it was nothing big! The funniest thing was that they have a little mini stethoscope to for hedgies (and other small babies I'm sure) to listen to their little hearts, and little lungs with. When the Vet was holding Sheila and trying to listen to her heart and lungs, sheila balled up around the stethoscope and was practically dangling from it.. which made it perfect for listening to her lungs, although it wasn't quite positioned correctly to hear her heart so I assisted in holding her for that.
I am so happy to know that there is a vet only half an hour away that I can take my baby to... just in case anything else goes on. Not to mention that she (the vet) has actually seen hedgies before, which is a huge plus because I wouldn't want anyone who didn't know what they were doing to be looking at her!
Anyhow, thank you for you good thoughts, and she is fine! Like I said a few more shots of medicine and she will be as good as new!
She also said that although the expectant life of a hedgehog is 3-5 years and Sheila will be 3 in December, that her heart and lungs are functioning normally and she has no bumps or lesions on her tummy.. hedgies are also prone to a few different types of cancer that would cause bumps... so she is good there, and the lesions would be due to an aggressive parasite of some sort. She was losing her quills, but because she is eating normally and drinking normally... they think she is fine, but the losing quills is not normal. They put her under a small amount of anesthesia so that they could get a skin scraping and check more thoroughly for bumps or lesions. Again they found nothing, so they are giving her 3 doses of medicine to treat for any parasite that she might have. She got the first one from the vet yesterday and will get the next 2 within the next 2-3 weeks.
I will say that I was worried sick, and driving myself insane, so I am glad that it was nothing big! The funniest thing was that they have a little mini stethoscope to for hedgies (and other small babies I'm sure) to listen to their little hearts, and little lungs with. When the Vet was holding Sheila and trying to listen to her heart and lungs, sheila balled up around the stethoscope and was practically dangling from it.. which made it perfect for listening to her lungs, although it wasn't quite positioned correctly to hear her heart so I assisted in holding her for that.
I am so happy to know that there is a vet only half an hour away that I can take my baby to... just in case anything else goes on. Not to mention that she (the vet) has actually seen hedgies before, which is a huge plus because I wouldn't want anyone who didn't know what they were doing to be looking at her!
Anyhow, thank you for you good thoughts, and she is fine! Like I said a few more shots of medicine and she will be as good as new!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Sheila Is Sick :(
I don't know for sure what is wrong, but she certainly isn't acting like her normal self, and I am being a very worried mama... I was doing all this research online, and don't get me wrong the internet is great, but not when it basically tells you your baby is going to die! Not good!
So I found a vet that told sees hedgies and I am taking her in this afternoon.. they are squeezing me in because they don't have an opening but knew that it was important to me. (I think I like them already.) Although she doesn't much like riding in her carry bag, she needs to make this trip.. Sorry girlie.
Best case scenario, she is fine and I was freaking out for nothing.. At least I can get her checked out just to make sure, and hopefully that is that.
Wishful thinking today for my girl.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Extreme Home Make-over
:Sheila's Edition:
When I first got little Sheila, she live in a little hedgehog mansion. Which would not break down small enough to it into even my largest suitcase! So I had to buy her a new and not so exciting cage. And ever since I moved here I have been meaning to dress it up a little for her to give her some more room.. but of course that hasn't happened for the last 7 & 1/2 months.... I fail at being a good mother. :(
So her new cage was basically just a cube with a wheel, her litter pan, and food and water dishes all crammed onto the one level of the cage and then her tube and toasty tent snuggled in there too. Very Crampy! So the whole point of the renovation is to spread things out to give her more levels to run around and have more fun, and not to cramp her style :)
Here is what it was before...of course I took this photo after removing everything so her cage could be cleaned.. so you really can't see the crampy-ness of it.
Boring!
And here is all of the wonderful new space she has acquired through our renovations!
So I as you can see, I added two shelves and some ramps to be able to elevate things, now she has a level for dining, and a level for exercising, and then the main level for her bed, tube, and litter. And it is great because she loves being snuggle in beneath the dining level for when she is sleeping!
And here she is when I first put her in... She's checking it all out! (and I know that in this photo it still looks cramped, but she as all of the room beneath the shelf, and then free space too! Plus she knocked the ramp down, and figured out how to climb up to the first shelf without it, so I took that out too, and now she really has a ton of space! It all worked out very well!
When I first got little Sheila, she live in a little hedgehog mansion. Which would not break down small enough to it into even my largest suitcase! So I had to buy her a new and not so exciting cage. And ever since I moved here I have been meaning to dress it up a little for her to give her some more room.. but of course that hasn't happened for the last 7 & 1/2 months.... I fail at being a good mother. :(
So her new cage was basically just a cube with a wheel, her litter pan, and food and water dishes all crammed onto the one level of the cage and then her tube and toasty tent snuggled in there too. Very Crampy! So the whole point of the renovation is to spread things out to give her more levels to run around and have more fun, and not to cramp her style :)
Here is what it was before...of course I took this photo after removing everything so her cage could be cleaned.. so you really can't see the crampy-ness of it.
Boring!
And here is all of the wonderful new space she has acquired through our renovations!
So I as you can see, I added two shelves and some ramps to be able to elevate things, now she has a level for dining, and a level for exercising, and then the main level for her bed, tube, and litter. And it is great because she loves being snuggle in beneath the dining level for when she is sleeping!
And here she is when I first put her in... She's checking it all out! (and I know that in this photo it still looks cramped, but she as all of the room beneath the shelf, and then free space too! Plus she knocked the ramp down, and figured out how to climb up to the first shelf without it, so I took that out too, and now she really has a ton of space! It all worked out very well!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
I'm Sorry Sheila!
Many of you just read that and said, "Wait a second.. Who is Sheila?" Well She is my little pet hedgehog! Since she is nocturnal and we only play together for about 10-15 minutes a day, I rarely have cute stories about her to share. I know I know, bad animal mommy. But its not true, I sleep while she plays and she likes it better this way! 
Isn't she cute! Okay so here's the story: A couple of weekends ago when I was cleaning my room and re-arranging things, It was getting late and sheila started to climb out of her little tent. Well my bedroom door was open. Jezzabelle, one of the cats came in and leapt up on top of my dresser. Sheila still hadn't met the cats at all yet because they aren't aloud in my room. So Jezzy poked her nose in.. she wanted to see what in the world that little thing was.
Sheila took one peak at her, ran from one side of the cage to the other so that she could get back in her tent, and then hissed as loud as I've ever heard her hiss, and balled up! She didn't know what that thing was but it was big and scary and she wasn't taking any chances! And it worked! Jezzy was out of the room in a matter of seconds! And that night, Sheila didn't let me play with her. And the next morning she didn't let me play with her. But finally the following night she let me play with her to show her that everything was ok. Poor Girl!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Something familiar
Today it rained! I love the fresh scent of the rain, I love how it seems to clear the air, and the loud sound it makes when the large droplets collide with the roof! I absolutely love the rain!
Due to the rain, today we spent the majority of our day inside...Little Dan and I built a new and extravigant train track, while little Ann ran some errands with mommy. Then we spent hours playing on the tracks until it was naptime. And I actually had a little bit of a break to myself! (if you even believe it!) Everyone was out to the store, and with little Dan asleep, I was able to read some of my Harry Potter! -I am only on #6 though so I don't even want to know what is going to happen!
Today was good! After nap-time, and lunch, we went to the store to pick up the bare necessities, and we took the long route both ways so that I could be shown some of the most driven roads about town. Tomorrow I am planning on taking my map and going out and exploring the town. I have to get to a few destinations anyhow, so I think I will just set out and hope for the best, and if not, I don't work until Monday...I should be home by then, right?!
On the list of to-do: Go to the Camera Shop to see if they can repair my digital camera...I'm not sure what is wrong with it, but it won't turn on for even a second, even when it has freshly charged batteries!
Find a good cup of coffee!! I haven't had any coffee since Monday morning! and I am about to go crazy! You know us Seattle natives, we love our coffees! (especially considering last week I was a barrista!) I just hope I can get a cup o'joe that is decent around these parts or else I might have to just quit and fly home!
Try to find another pet store in town that scott was telling me about. I need a few more things for Sheila. The shelves that she needs in her cage are supposed to be plastic, as opposed to wire so that she doesn't hurt her feet or get stuck toes...and right now she doesn't have any shelves, because the new ones were metal so I just have everything crammed into the bottom of her cage. She is probably wondering why she had to move from the wonderful hedgehog mansion to this little shack, but hopefully I can remedy that tomorrow.
Anyhow that is it for me...hope to get the weekend errands taken care of so I can relax in front of a good movie and knit at some point!
Have a good one!
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