Gem (and MoMo): I'm gonna be a big sister (again) and news

Hello, everyone! Some of you know my Gem from her ER thread, but if you don't, you will soon.

Gematria was a rescue (I definitely consider her one) that I found on Craigslist. After e-mailing the owner, I got an (obviously out-of-date) photograph of a healthy-looking but obviously annoyed dragon.

So, we went to meet the owner. After examining the dragon, I couldn't see anything that couldn't be fixed immediately. But, after interrogating the owner (who, mind you, thought she was in perfect health) we learned that she'd been put on sand and eating bugs from OUTSIDE. I knew that I had to take her home, so I paid the guy the $100 for her and all her stuff.

Upon arriving home, I did a quick inventory.

- 1 55 gallon tank, complete with poo and sand. Nice.
- 1 heat rock (threw that away....)
- 1 water dish, complete with algae! and a water pump to make it bubble. (That thing was caked with algae)
- 1 food dish, complete with dried poo and carrots (yummy)
- 1 hide, which was way too small
- 1 light fixture with a blown bulb (useful)
- 2 UVB fixtures, with the glass still over the bulb, and a bulb that put out 2% UVB (also useful)
- 2 thermometers, one a stick-on that doesn't work, the other so caked with sand and dirt that I had to throw it away because the buttons wouldn't push and it was trying to tell me my room was 34*F

Then there's the dragon herself. Obviously female, but she'd never been handled or bathed, and had obvious MBD. After removing some yellow scab substance from her mouth, I found two sores on the inside of her lip. I knew that she had to have parasites, considering her conditions. She definitely wasn't underweight, at least. I also found a large lump on her right ankle which we haven't identified yet.

We made her a vet appointment (for 3:00 today) and tried to treat what we could. I put Hibiclens (which is like Betadine) on her mouth sores, got some babyfood into her, and wrapped her in a towel.

She was vicious, gaping at everything and anything, hissing, trying to bite, bearding, the whole 9 yards. However, as I type, two days after buying her, she sits in my lap in her 'security towel' (she freaks if she's completely exposed to the air). She has learned to tolerate me after I talked and read to her (yes, read to her).

Since she had no name before, I decided to call her Gematria, or Gem. Her head is simply beautiful, yellow with orange and red in the beard, with golden eyes. The rest of her is grey, but that will change in time, I'm sure.

Soon, we'll be headed out for the vet.
I will definitely post updates on that.

Jacqui

 

[jacqui778]

Hello, everyone. Long time, no see. :mrgreen:

Well, the end of the year is slowly rambling around the corner. Every day I walk out my back door to head off to school, I can feel summer coming. The grass is green, the flowers are blooming, and I smell like sunshine. It's lovely.

Gem feels it, too. She's awake (well, half the time, lazy girl) and romping, and has reclaimed her window spot from the cat. Unfortunately, however, Louis broke the screen on my window, so Miss Gem can't go up there until I get it fixed. Wouldn't want her falling out, though.
I'm about to start planting my little summer garden, with all Gem's favorite foods. Even if she never really eats them, heh. Still an anti-salad chicka.

I think Gem is also more intelligent than she's letting me believe. She acts like she doesn't understand what I say (talk to the butt!), but yet I catch her giving me weird looks all the time. Silly girl.

Jethro is doing very well. He's finally got his cone off, and he's acting like his normal self! Hooray! Also, he's learned to throw his ball BACK now, when we play fetch. This has resulted in my getting hit with a muddy tennis ball, in the face, >5 times...

Also, I am doing quite well myself. I've come a loooong way since the beginning of the school year, even... I'm even amazed at how I've changed. I'm happy to say that I have many friends (probably the most I've had my whole life :lol: ), been a High Honor student all year, and I've grown an inch (a mix of growth and improved posture), which means I'm a little more slender. The good weather has given me a kick in the butt to start taking much better care of myself, too. I'm feeling much more confident, and much happier... even if I do have some things that try to bring me down.

So I would like to thank you, all of you, for your support and love, and for putting up with me. Love and hugs, to you all. :mrgreen:

~ J.

 

[sweetiepie9]

Hi Jacqui, it's really good to hear from you. Glad to hear you're having a good year, 1st year of high school is always difficult. So you're still growing? Good for you! I stopped growing at 12 yrs old at 5 ft 2 in. So good that you're gaining & that your posture is better. Good posture, shoulders back, really helps your immune system, and will prevent scholiosis. So keep at it.

and an Honour Student, good for your Jacqui, there's never been a question that you are highly intelligent WELL DONE

Give Gem and hug & I'm sending you a big one too. Drop by our thread if you have a minute. Goofy Rubio is still goofy, and really big (don't ask me how he got so big, but he's now 21" long and 770g. He went to the vet yesterday to have a strange cyst or fat pad ( my vet still doesn't know, the liquid is clear that she removed). Anyway once a year we get it aspriated and there's just loose skin left. Otherwise he's in great health! and he's started eating again!

Didi (our foster), Lonzo (who's now 8 yrs old!), Leo (he'll be 4 in Aug), Rubio (he'll be 3 in Aug) and Sweetie (who's still in her hide) all say hi to Gem. They all hope Gem will get to be outside and getting REAL sunshine, that will make her feel better. (I have to clean off our beardie proofed balcony, then it's juggling dragons every 1/2 hr to make sure they get a good share of UVB).
Deb

 

[Sashee]

High School can suck at times, but you will make it through and actually miss it sometimes. I never thought I'd say that but it's true. Glad your babies are all doing well.

Note from Yoshi: Hewwo Gem. Yoo need to eet yor gweens. Twy Bok Choy. I wuvs it. -Yoshi

 

[Goonie]

Hooray for 1) Gem being herself again, 2) Jethro all healed, 3) you being on the honor roll all year, and 4) feeling better about yourself!

Wook at me mommy! I be fat!

 

[sweetiepie9]

Oh MoMo, such a cutie. Jacqui you've got so many things to be thankful for, especially the ones Gina mentioned! I know you'll ace your final exams.
Hugs
Deb

 

[fresnowitte]

Yes she does be fat! :lol:

 

[protiemama]

Yay, for you, Jacqui! I knew you could make it through the year. If you start to believe in yourself as much as we do, there's no end to the things you could do.
Glad all your critters are doing well. That Momo is something isn't she! What a growth spurt. Quite a smart pup you have there. Now if you could just do something about his aim. :laughing6:
Good luck with Finals, not that you need it.

Sandy H :mrgreen:

 

[beardie osk]

What a great job on being an honor roll student,.............I'm so glad all is well with you and all your critters...........what a great year, congrats!

 

[Goonie]

Jacqui, here's another pic for you to :laughing6: over

 

[beardie parents]

And the rest of us!

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Hi Jacqui! Hope you have a wonderful 15th birthday!

 

[Goonie]

 

[beardie parents]

Happy birthday, Jacqui

 

[fresnowitte]

 

[jacqui778]

Aww, thanks guys!! :love5:
I think I've spent at least an hour thanking everyone for birthday wishes. :lol:

So far, I've gotten CDs, the Transformers movies, and a bow (that was the big ticket item) for my big day. I ended up picking out all my gifts but I'm not complaining. But yeah, I'm officially an archer, and not a bad one at that. :wink: Also, we'll probably be going to the Baltimore Aquarium sometime this week... I looooove aquariums. :mrgreen:

I woke up this morning to Gem staring me right in the eyes. I feel like she was giving me her own "Happy Birthday". Then she promptly licked her lips, which means she's hungry. :lol: She tried a blueberry and found she liked them, but she wouldn't eat more than 4. Sigh. Now she's romping off, as usual. :roll:

Love you guys!! :mrgreen:

~J.