Truly Reaching Out For Help...

[PonchoandDaddy]

Thank you for sharing that! I'm also really glad you posted, I was thinking about you the other day! How are the babies doing?

 

[nordica]

@PonchoandDaddy - The girls are doing quite well, thanks! I've redone their lighting, throwing out the MVBs that I had been using and replacing them with new Arcadia 12% UVB tubes and separate heat bulbs, with which I'm seeing MUCH better results. Both have little patches of shed going on, though poor little Spaz's patches are all on her mouth and eyes, so she's been a little grumpy lately. After Leo's passing, I had them both at the Vet's the very next paycheck, to give them a once-over (with so much of my attention and finances being devoted to Leo, both girls hadn't been to the Vet for a check-up in a year). Spaz had a small case of pinworms, which was cleared up quickly with two rounds of Panacur (she really hadn't shown any signs of anything being wrong, and was still as fat and happy as ever). Helen's bloodwork had shown a random infection, and so was put on a round of Fortaz. Unfortunately, it didn't clear it up, and in fact she'd had more reactive cells during her follow-up appointment, even though her appetite had skyrocketed as well as her weight (though she was far from underweight to begin with). The news had put me into a panic, because she seemed to be following poor Leo's early pattern, but after rounds of both Flagyl and Cipro, her bloodwork came back perfectly normal. *whew!* Summer is in full swing here, so at least once a week, I take both girls outside for some natural sunlight. Spaz still gets skittish every time she's outside, and more often than not will want to hide under me, but Helen is beginning to become just as gregarious as Leo was. She LOVES exploring now, and has an affinity for crabgrass and clover patches, just like Leo did. I even saw her pluck a yellow jacket right out of the air, gobbling it down before I could get to her (this is the third time she's done this, just like Leo used to do *facepalm*). Helen seems to have found a bit of her "natural instinct", and is preferring greens that she can forage for as opposed to those that are nicely chopped and prettily presented to her in a fancy dish. Spaz, on the other hand, is still as blissfully spoiled as always, and I'm sure would prefer HER food to arrive on a silver platter while she reclines on a bed of chinchilla pelts. :roll: I STILL haven't gotten my act together and built the girls their new larger, custom enclosures. I don't know what I'm waiting for; maybe I just don't know where to start. Originally, I was going to build them each their own 4' x 2' that I can stack on each other, but now I'm wondering if I can get away with a couple of 5' x 2' enclosures instead... and by "get away with", I mean start and finish them before The Fiance will notice (he works out of town Mon through Fri); if I were to actually TELL him that I want them to be five feet long now, he'll flip a cog. :mrgreen:

 

[Irwinshealth]

I too am glad to hear an update of how things are going! I think of you often after such a hard struggle with Leo. The necklace is beautiful. I may have to get myself one in memory of Irwin. I looked for something like that when he passed but couldn't find a thing. I hope you are able to make the larger viv's. I love having mine. Glad to hear the girls have are doing better now. Why can't she have a silver platter mom???? :mrgreen:
Again, great to hear an update

 

[Esther19]

Thanks for checking in with the update, Nordica. Good to see you. I had been wondering how you were doing.

 

[dragonlover3]

It's gorgeous!
Amanda

 

[BeardieMommy3991]

I just spent the last hour reading through this entire thread. I don't really have any words that can truely express the admiration I feel when I think of what you went through for Leo. He had an amazing, loving, caring, dedicated mommy, who stayed with him until the very very end. I cried quite alot near the end - I lost a beardie last october from cancer, and your story rung true with the exact same emotions I felt losing him.

Leo couldn't ask for a better owner, a better mother, or a better friend. I'm sorry for your loss, but you will always have the good memories you made together and the precious times you shared. The necklace is a touching and beautiful reminder of Leo's courage, love, and determination to hold on as long as he could.

~ Much love
Jaime & Toothless