Ryan as a baby.

Our littlest critter, Ryan Hammy, recently went on an unapproved expedition, lasting four days and  four nights. We relentlessly looked for the little guy in every nook and cranny of our home. Hamsters are nocturnal, so we went on middle of the night walks throughout the house with a flashlight. We even held hands in a circle, as a family, and prayed we would find him alive.

On day four we were beginning to fear the worst. As Jessica was lying in bed, she heard some scratching noises coming from the furnace closet. We crowded around the closet listening to the sound of faint scratching coming from our ducts in the ceiling. James heard something fall onto the air conditioning condenser directly above the furnace. He quickly ran to the garage to get his toolbox and removed the cover and, in a final act of desperation, Ryan climbed out!

What we saw was a pitiful sight! The bottoms of Ryan’s feet were charred from being inside metal ducts with the furnace running. His black, scabby feet were swollen. His teeth were broken off  and his claws were completely worn down. He was dehydrated and unable to hold the watermelon we gave him in his paws. We could tell he was so happy to be back in his cage, even if he couldn’t climb around in it. He went to bed and stayed there for several days! Elaina cared for her hamster quite well, cutting up small bites of food for him! He has made a full recovery, even his teeth have grown back!

Ryan was a special Christmas morning surprise for Elaina.

I found Ryan on Craigslist when he was just three weeks old. He lived in our master bathroom for two weeks leading up to Christmas. Somehow Elaina never discovered him! He is so gentle, never once showing any aggression. We love watching him stuff his cheeks full of snacks. Elaina couldn’t wait to celebrate his first birthday on November 15. She made him carrot cake cupcakes to celebrate. We will be thankful to have him around for another birthday!

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�We’ve temporarily changed Snowball’s name to Snow Cone! Our white piggy has pretty pink, purple and blue highlights! Jessica and I�got a wild hair and decided to give Snowball a little spring do. We took a small amount of pet conditioner and added a packet of grape Kool-aid mix. We put it on her fur and gave her a big pile of her favorite treat, parsley! She happily nibbled away and when she was done pigging out (hehe!) we gave her a bath with her critter shampoo and . . . Voila,�a purplish, pinkish, blueish�piggy! An experiment seemed fitting, she is a guinea pig!

It would have been a bit more�bold had Jessica not run out of patience before Snowball, er, I mean Snow Cone.

SNOW CONE

I had a lovely snow cone.
I licked it all the day.
I licked it still in bed that night.
It wouldn’t go away.
I gave some to my mommy.
I gave some to the cat.
The thing’s a lousy glacier.
I think I’m getting fat

By Robert Munsch

Spring is on it’s way! Rosie is molting something fierce! She has tufts of fur sticking out all over! I’ve vaccumned her several times! It’s crazy, but she doesn’t seem to mind! (I use the hose attachment and vaccum her gently, so don’t worry) The silly bun is not scared of anything!

 “I got my hair highlighted, because I felt some strands were more important than others.”

My Lydia Grace turned 10 on Sunday!

Lydia wasn’t feeling well. I took her to the doc today. They did x-rays of her abdomen and couldn’t find any problems, so she’s on medicine to help with her stomach pain and nausea. Hopefully she’ll be able to go to school and enjoy her day tomorrow.

but she was just really sound asleep. I had to shake her twice to wake her up!

You just never know what your going to find in our home.

Elaina came to me complaining of an ear ache. I felt a little freaked out when I saw something white way down deep in her ear. Fortunately, our doctor friend, Jeff, was over. Between James, the ex-nurse, and Jeff, the chiropractor, the procedure was a success. Jeff pulled out a BIG wad of paper from way down in Elaina’s ear. The amazing thing is she didn’t know how it got there!!!!!! (later she confessed to James that she had an itch and apparently she thought paper would reach it!)

Rosie Posie joined us for our family movie night. She stretched out and took it all in! She LOVED The Sound of Music!

After a week and a half of the stomach flu, I’m hoping we’re done!!! Lydia threw up in front of her class last week and she has had so much anxiety about it that everytime we’ve taken her back to school she gets so worried that she throws up again. Aren’t traumatic childhood moments terrible?!!! Poor baby.

Jessica turned NINE Saturday. Thank you for your birthday wishes. Last week was a difficult week and by Friday I had a bit of a breakdown. I’m sorry I’ve been out of touch. Thank you, James, for helping me recover from insanity! I can’t wait for sunny, 70 degree days!!!!!!!

Bonus pic:

For my Mom’s birthday I wanted to treat her to lunch at Countryside restaurant. Mom and Dad D planned on taking Aunt Kathryn out for her birthday — same time, same place. We joined up and had a relaxing and fun lunch! Isn’t family awesome!

The school nurse just called and I cringed. Who threw up now?! Elaina peed her pants and I’m relieved!!!!

I am a new bunny mommy! I recently adopted Rosie, a mini lop, through the House Rabbit Society. It was a blast going to the bunny foster home and picking out a bun of my own! Rosie is the cutest, sweetest thing EVER. She isn’t shy or fearful of anything, not even James’ new 75 pound doggy, Buddy.

Buddy at the office.

James has been wanting a doggy of his very own for quite some time. We met Buddy at a pet store where volunteers were trying to find him a home so he wouldn’t be put down at the shelter. Buddy is super sweet and very gentle. He has good manners and has been well trained and cared for. His only problem area is his need to door dart and head for the hills! We are taking training suggestions.

Buddy is a mixed breed with perhaps some lab, german shephard and alien blood lines. He goes to work with James each day and receives lots of attention from the guys.  It’s hilarious when the two of them come home for lunch! Buddy is a good construction dog and companion for James, sometimes he even gets to go measure jobs.!

Bunny kiss

I had fun making a pen for Rosie!

Bunny hug

Rosie is litter box trained!

Doesn’t that just give you warm, pink fuzzies!

Happy Valentine’s Day! As with most of the holidays, I enjoy the time through the eyes of my children. This last week has been filled with Valentine box crafting. Jessica and I staged a photo shoot of her guinea pigs. We took quite a few Valentine-esque photos of the piggies. She taped them all over her box, inside and out, along with a number of red hearts. It was quite a tribute of love for her pigs.

Lydia’s box was topped with a Littlest Pet Shop disco scene, complete with a working disco ball! Elaina and I made a really cute monkey box and Anjelia did a bunny box, of course. I wish I had pictures, but I’ve all but given up on my camera. I miss taking pictures.

Speaking of pictures. . . I tried to take pictures of my homemade noodles! Yes, I made homemade noodles for the first time. Unfortunately, I have no documentation. They turned out very yummy. (Thank you Robin, for teaching me!) I was proud to serve them for James’ sis, Christie, who visited us last week after seven long years! It was so good to see her. She recently returned from being deployed to Iraq and we were thankful to have her home! I also had the honor of having James’ Aunt Kathryn over. I’ve missed these ladies!

Jessica has fallen in love with the music of John Denver. She has the BEST of teachers this year and Mrs. R plays John Denver music during class. Jessica borrowed her teacher’s cd so James could put the music on her MP3 player. Too cute!

Do you remember your Valentine boxes? What kind of music did you like in grade school?

Elaina spent days in front of our fireplace with a fever. Landon was right by her side the entire time.

Despite the bitter cold, I hope you have a warm and cozy, love filled week!

James gave the girls and me Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve. We sprinkled oatmeal in the driveway for the reindeer, set out Santa’s milk and cookies and tucked the anxious and tired girls into their beds. I set out on my three hour excursion to pick up Lydia and Jessica’s animals. The kitten stayed at my sister’s home for a month, while the guinea pigs stayed with Carl, Mary and Tori. Thanks so much for your help!

On most Christmas mornings the girls wake us up and drag us out of bed, but this year James and I were wide awake at the first sound of kids whispering while excitedly running up and down the stairs. We couldn’t wait to surprise Lydia and Jessica!!

The suspense of what could be in these big boxes had been eating at them for over a week. After digging out the packing and finding the pictures of their pets, they just sat there confused and almost disappointed acting.

James told them to go to our bedroom and they jumped up with funny looks on their faces. Unfortunately, I could not follow them. Anjelia woke up very sick and was about 3 minutes from puking. (After puking she perked up and was perfectly healthy for the rest of the day. Thank you, Lord.) I immediately heard Lydia start screaming followed by loud crying. She came out carrying the kitten while bawling her eyes out. She said, “I can’t believe it; it’s a dream come true”.

Jessica loves her guineas. They seem like the perfect pets for her. She’ll sit and watch tv for an hour while they sit and snuggle with her. She’s been begging for some kind of furry critter to care for.

Scooter and the kitten meet for the first time!

Elaina and Anjelia had a wonderful Christmas, too!

Lydia, Jessica and Elaina received their coveted Barbie Girl Mp3 players from Santa!!!

Jessica shared her music with the grandmas!

Oh, here’s Snowball the other guinea pig.

We built a big cage for the piggies! I’ll post pics of it soon. They are the cutest, funniest critters!

Lydia named her kitten, Landon. He snuggles to her all night long. They are inseparable. Lydia was thrilled when she found out he likes car rides!

I’m dreading Christmas break being over. I’ve really enjoyed my days with the kids. I love not having the morning rush. It will be good to get back into a routine again. . . I guess.