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:

 

[Lindz0518]

Yeah the head shaking is just an early sign of not enough calcium, good thing that you pay attention. Venus started not keeping her balance well and I started her on liquid calcium because she didn't eat for a month (sometimes leos go on hunger strikes, it is like semi brumation) so she wasn't getting calcium. She improved in like a week.

 

[sweetiepie9]

Glad to hear it!

 

[sweetiepie9]

So gave Bunny calcium, she licked it right down and then she ate a good amount of Repashy. Tried to get her to eat a phoenix worm, but that didn't work. So still have a bunch of worms in a dish that she can dip into if she wants. I might have to get back to crickets, darn it, but not to Rocco unless I take out the backing in his tank, as I can't deal with dead crickets behind the backing at all, so stinky! But I think Rocco is eating the phoenix worms, I"ve been finding pieces of them in his tank. Didn't get a chance to clean out their tanks, hopefully during the week.

So surprise of all surprises, Eric called me 1/2 an hour ago, Leo needs to be in the hospital tomorrow am for a 3 hour hearing test that all newborns get now. His apt is at 9a tomorrow am, so I called in 1/2 day to be made up on Oct 5 (I don't think I'll have an issue with it as long as I make up the time) and I'll stay with Eric while the testing is done. That way I get to see Leo, but in return I told Eric I want to get over to his place this weekend for a bit when he's awake so I can actually hold him. He's having my sis, b-I-l and niece over next weekend (first time Tehya will see him), so I'm so glad for that, as he starts work the week after. Says Leo still isn't on a schedule, well I hate to break the bad news, but babies don't go onto "schedules" hardly ever, no such thing when they're hungry as Leo is! And it'll get worse before it gets better. As a single Mom I know all about that!

So I'm off to bed, have to be up early in the am!
Can you tell I'm excited, he even apologized for not having me over this weekend, guess things change when you need Mom.

 

[Lindz0518]

Glad you get to go to Leo's appointment tomorrow and that Eric apologized to you. You are definitely right about babies and schedules, mine are now 5 and 7 and I have yet to get a schedule down pat with them :roll:

 

[sweetiepie9]

I know, it's impossible to get them on a strict schedule, you can tell they're first time parents! I'm just glad he called, want to be a part of Leo's life. Time to get ready, will let you guys know.

 

[beardie parents]

Have a good time, Deb.

 

[sweetiepie9]

Well I spent 3 1/2 hrs altogether with them. Leo was 2 hours having that hearing test and has perfect hearing. He had to be asleep for the whole time, so I fed him a bottle (boy was he hungry) and he did sleep the whole time, then I got to carry him down to the car. We took him home, I took Eric around to places he needed to go, never got invited into their home (not a good time...that's what they always say) and when I dropped him off the last time (after taking him to apply for further parental leave, stores for food shopping, etc) he gave me a huge lecture on how I'm not treating Tara right. I pretty well told him to shove it and get out of my car & went home to get ready for work. I was so glad to see Leo, but Eric hasn't changed at all, he's as pompous as he's been since he's been with Tara. He can't afford to be on another month of paternity leave but Tara is "all nerves" right now and so he feels he has to be home...he's going to have to get to work at some point, she's going to have to deal with Leo on her own when he does...I knew this was going to happen. I'm must glad her mom is close & hopefully Tara will be getting her mom in to help her daily once Eric is at work. I wish them well...

So found an old egg in Bunny's hide this am, no wonder she wasn't hungry. Now to start the calcium & Repashy again tonight, nightly. And I guess I'm back to crickets, neither of them are eating much of the phoenix worms, meanwhile my house has a lot of little flies, guess it's too warm in here & can't put them in the fridge. So out comes Rocco's background, as crickets get behind there no matter how much I plug up the top and bottom and die in there, the stink is terrible. I might try them on roaches first, though, see if they eat little roaches, that would work as I have a ton of roaches. Will try that before I try crickets again. At least I can dust them with Repashy.

So that's the update, off to work, I have some funny pics, will try to load them tonight.

 

[Goonie]

never got invited into their home (not a good time...that's what they always say) and when I dropped him off the last time (after taking him to apply for further parental leave, stores for food shopping, etc) he gave me a huge lecture on how I'm not treating Tara right. I pretty well told him to shove it and get out of my car & went home to get ready for work.

:silent:

 

[CountofCasualty]

...How can you not treat Tara right when you NEVER SEE HER? My goodness. You would think that he would get over himself, and her over herself. ARGGG. They need to grow up. They're acting like children and that is not okay. They're parents, and adults. They need to start acting like it and not pulling these silly cards out. That is something I would expect from a 14 year old, not a 20-odd year old couple.

They clearly do not understand family. I hate to assume, but I think Tara's family has spoiled her rotten and every time she has a fit they bow and give in, feeding that attitude. My sister was MUCH(and still is in many ways) the same way as her, (except I was the scape goat), and that is what fueled her. Every time she threw a fit she got her way.

Guess they both need to learn the hard way that isn't how life works.

 

[diamc]

Deb, I'm so sorry to hear that Eric said that to you, that's awful. I don't understand it as you don't even see Tara or talk to her, how can you not be treating her right :?: :!: :?: Do you suppose Tara might be going through depression? That really is quite common after having a baby, she really should talk to her OB/GYN and Leo's Pediatrician if that is the case because they really can help.

I'm glad you got to spend some time with Leo, I'm sure you thoroughly enjoyed it. Sorry to hear you are going through all of this, it's not fair, you just want to be his grandmother and spend time with him, that isn't a lot to ask in my book.

HUGS Deb.

 

[Esther19]

I, for one, am really glad you told Eric to shove it! You get treated like crap no matter how nice you are. Why not tell him how you really feel? Glad you got to see sleeping Leo. I'm sure he is a sweetie. His parents' genes must be recessive. I'm sending you a great big hug!!! Oh, and this for Tara and Eric:

 

[sweetiepie9]

I so appreciate the support and I know I've done nothing wrong. I have no intention of calling him either. I'll go over only if I'm invited to see Leo. I give him no excuses, this attitude has been going on since he met Tara. And I think Tara is chronically depressed and in great pain 24/7, but her body can't seem to absorb pain pills or anti-depressants. Either way, that's no excuse to treat me this way. I have no intention of apologizing for ANYTHING, nor am I ever going to change. I'm a straight forward person and don't put up with much crap. My whole family is the same way and we all get along just fine and enjoy getting together. We don't overcrowd each other & that way don't get on each other's nerves. My mom is appalled at Eric's behaviour, but she & my dad are leaving on Saturday for their latest cruise, so they're out of the picture for a month, which is good, they need the time away.

So thanks again, I so appreciate your remarks, makes me feel GREAT!

Jolene, if your sister is like Tara, then I can understand why you're not close. We were never given any leeway for acting up, my mom would listen, then we'd go to our rooms to calm down. And that's how we are as adults, we talk out our issues and support each other. But if my mom had handled us differently, we'd not be as solid as we are as adults, either. I've met Tara's mom and dad and they don't put up with her nonsense, at least it doesn't seem that way from my end. They had issues along the way, but I've only ever heard it from Tara and her mom and I have always gotten along really well. But it's hard to know how things go behind the scenes. If they don't want to include me in Leo's life, so be it, I'm not going to beg anymore. I'm just glad I got to hold him & feed him and hold his little hands...he is such a cutie in spite of his parents behaviour.

And Jolene, Eric will be 30 yrs old in December and Tara is 25...oh well, I didn't raise him this way either.

So I'm off to take care of Bunny, she needs calcium and Repashy. Will talk to you all later!

 

[CountofCasualty]

He'll be 30?! I didn't realize he was that old, from the way he acts!

She seems pampered, and from someone who is depressed-it's no bleeping bleeping excuse to not treat family well. I feel like if people don't treat her like a pampered princess that always gets her way with everyone agreeing with her, she gets mad and doesn't want them around.

As for my sister...My parents try not to let her have her way anymore. But years of it, the habits are hard to break. I just avoid her presence when I can and if I have to be around, interactions are limited. The less I say to her, the less conflict it seems(though once she got mad about that, too, and I lost it on her and walked out). Seems the same between you and Tara, too. The three of them, my sister, Tara, and Eric, need to grow up. My sister is 30 now, too. Though some days she acts like she's 17. :roll: :lol:

You'll always have my support on the matter. I will never understand adults that act like spoiled children. Just goes to show you can raise them incredibly well but they still turn rotten for a while. I hope he sweetens up soon.

 

[sweetiepie9]

I hope so too, Jolene, but I'm not holding my breath. I have a lot of things to do, family, friends, work, keeps me very busy, so I don't think of it a lot, yet sometimes toss and turn at night, but otherwise I put it aside as I can't do anything about them at this point. It really urks me, though, that he's taking another month of paternity leave because he doesn't want to leave Tara with the baby, yet they can't afford to do that. And I can't help them, being constantly broke. So we'll see what happens when he finally does go back to work. He's on EI but it's 50% of his salary, not enough to live on when you're the only salary. So he's gotten himself in a real pickle, that's for sure.
Oh well, they'll have to sort it out for themselves. Can't do it for them. And I hate spoiled adults, too.
thanks for the support Jolene, it means a lot.

 

[zandi202]

I feel like they just keep throwing excuses at you.