Nathaniel, Cierra, Castiel, Freya, Grrl; RIP GABRIEL

We never expected to get another dragon, but our neighbours next door wanted to give away Cleo, as he was called. We'd babysat him before, he's such a sweetheart. We nicknamed him Velcro because when he snuggles he never wants to go back to his viv, he hangs on as if he's made out of velcro.

So here he is. Today was his first day with us. He ate 13 supers and ate some squash, not bad for the first day he was here. He's only in a 30 gallon tank, which will be ok for now. He's 18" long but weighs only 200g. We figure he's probably 2 yrs old. Our neighbours rescued him last fall, they found him and a female (which they named Puff) on Craig's list. They were in a 30 gallon dirty tank, with sand and a huge log that took up 1/2 the space in the tank. Leo was at the bottom, he was sooooo skinny. He's gained weight, but never got the attention he deserved. I took some pics today, but will take more tomorrow. I think he remembers our place as didn't get stressed as I expected. No stress marks at all. When we let him run around the living room, he noticed our girls and immediate black beard, so his hormones are working!

He had a bath this morning, had a big poop, no smell, so not worried about parasites.

So here are a few pics, he's a yellow & dark gray, light gray colour.

Under the communal power sun in the living room:

Discovering there are girls in those tanks up above, he has a great black beard for such a skinny boy:

On the couch, he's got a pretty diamond pattern on his back:

Hope you enjoy
Deb and my six dragons :shock: :shock: :shock: :love5:

 

[Esther19]

And baby steps means going slowly...a little bit at a time.

 

[sweetiepie9]

My son got together with Tara after his 1st wife left him when he was 23. He got really depressed and then met Tara a few months later. She's controlling and manipulative and has some serious issues with OCD, it's a long story. After Roger (my hubby) passed away in June/11, Eric and I went to grief counselling that is offered by my employer for free. We went to 7 sessions altogether and a lot came out about how Tara was treating him. We all got along during that time and for a few months Eric asked me to come over on Sundays for a couple of hours, made him feel better. Last March Tara announced that they were going to try to get pregnant. She has a back disease called spinal stenosis that affects the inside of the spine, it thins it, causing a lot of pain, and you're supposed to stay active. Now Tara is a big lady, at that time she was 280lbs, which doesn't help the disease she has. She had a lot of trouble getting around so I asked her how she was going to care for a baby. She didn't like that and I wasn't allowed to visit or really talk to Eric for 9 months. That caused a lot of ill will on my side of the family and seeing as she wasn't well liked to begin with, put me out in the cold. I saw Eric only twice in the last year & Tara only once, when they announced that she was pregnant. It's been a very trying time and it was great that I got invited as with the new baby coming in August, I want to be welcomed when he/she arrives. Tara's already on bed rest and it worries me how they're going to manage, even though her mom isn't working and lives 5 min away and is able to help out. But she can't help out 24/7. It's hard enough to raise a baby when you're healthy, 100 times worse when you're not. She did lose 60 lbs before she got pregnant and the pregnancy is going well, but I worry all the time. My family is starting to accept that she's part of the family now and I know she and Eric will be getting married before or after the baby is born, but I still worry. I was very pleased about being invited over...so I hope this is the beginning of a healing time between us all. My son and I have always been very close and the last year has been very difficult for me.

Anyway, it's hard to explain Tara, but that's the jist of it all. I'm feeling better & I'm really hoping he wasn't just putting me on about tomorrow. He's supposed to be calling me with a time but I haven't heard from him yet, so we'll see. But that's what Gina meant about baby steps, Matt. It's hard when your only child turns against you, even if he's an adult. He's 29 yrs old and Tara is 24. We were all hopeful that they wouldn't stay together, but that changed when she got pregnant. At least he has a good job and is dedicated to making this all work. I just want to make sure I'm included in my grandchild's life.

So wish me luck with tomorrow...I'll make sure I apologize for my comment (she's very sensitive and hold grudges :roll: ) from last year and keep my comments to myself in the future.

On another note, I tried to weigh Titan tonight but my scale has gone screwy, it's showing only 1/3 of the grams it should. Guess it's time for another one, I'm going to check out the one on Cheryl's site if I can fine one locally. I even changed the batteries!

Gabriel got a lot of time out today, he spent nearly an hour in the sunshine and I was able to get 1 pic, I had a friend over for the morning, which was nice, before I went to the doctor. Now I have to get out to do some shopping.

Cooling off on the sofa, he was very happy to have outside time!

 

[zandi202]

I love Gabriel!!

 

[sweetiepie9]

He's become such a fat little thing, so full of personality and the one that loves snuggling the best, he actually gets really down if I don't snuggle him every day, so I've taken to putting him on my shoulder in the am for awhile before I put him under his lights to warm up, seems to be feeling better about that. You should see the stress marks on him when he feels I'm ignoring him :lol: But 5 min of snuggling & his tummy is pure white. He is a brat but I love him, too!

 

[zandi202]

Aw, such a mamma's boy!

 

[morphmom]

That's a really lovely pic. The sun is hitting him just right and I think I see a little smile

 

[Oki05]

Aw I'm sorry sweetiepie I hope everything turns out great with you and Eric tomorrow. Please let us know how everything went. Also I feel weird calling you sweetiepie whats your really name?

 

[morphmom]

Her name is Deb :wink:

 

[Oki05]

Othen I now dub her Ms. Deb of The Beardie Knights in Black

 

[sweetiepie9]

Thanks Matt! I'll let you all know, haven't heard from him. It's not been a great situation, but my mom's been great, telling me to stay in touch and be patient. My ex, Eric's father, was like Tara in a lot of ways & my mom kept in touch, as he also tried to cut me off from my family but it didn't work in the end. I kicked him out and got closer to my family instead

 

[Oki05]

your ex do you mean Roger?

 

[sweetiepie9]

No I was married before Roger, Eric was 4 yrs old when I met Roger and we were together for 24 years. I was with Eric's dad only 3 years & when we divorced I got legal custody of Eric, so I was allowed to move out west without telling him, which I did. He was a nasty man, into cocaine and drinking, I was just stupid at 23, that's my only excuse and getting Eric out of the deal was great as I wasn't ever supposed to have a kid, he was a miracle baby.

 

[Oki05]

Oh well either way everything will work out Deb of The Beardie Knights in Black

 

[sweetiepie9]

Thanks for the title, it's nicer than the crazy reptile lady :lol: I'm so hoping it does work out, I'm an optimist, so I always think positive as much as possible!

 

[Goonie]

Since you haven't posted as of yet, I'm hoping that you're currently at Eric and Tara's place.