Our First Emergency

My sweet little boy didn't come out of his cave for breakfast yesterday.

I tried putting his food near him, because it's unusual for him not to run for breakfast, but he pushed it away. Tried giving him an Oxbow Papaya Tablet as a treat, but he didn't take it. Parsley, no.

At first I thought maybe he just wasn't hungry, breakfast was late and encroached on naptime. But he never refused food before. And he was still pooping like a champ.

So I went out, got a pineapple to juice, a feeding syringe, and a thermometer, and came back. He was hiding under the bathroom toilet and wouldn't come out.

When I picked him up, he didn't struggle at all. I held him for several minutes without a kick. This was definitely NOT my normal healthy boy.

His temp read 99.2. I thought, that couldn't be right. So I tested the thermometer on Sogna. 102.4. So, if anything, the thermometer was giving higher readings, not lower. (Although, at our last vet visit, they told me to keep an eye on Sogna because her temp was a little high, but she was perfectly healthy. So I think she probably just runs high.)

At this point, I panic. I have no medications whatsoever in the house, because the buns have never been sick before. At least not since Sogna was in foster care.

I called the vet, who closes at 5, at about 4:30. I explained the situation, and asked whether I should wait til the morning or come in now. They said, you could get simethicone and try to get him through the night, but, "you know with rabbits, they go fast." Ahhh. Ok, will you stay open for us? We're on our way.

I packed up the whole family (Jon to drive, me, the patient and Sogna for moral support), and headed to Brooklyn. The nearest vet is 20 min away.

I'm not going anywhere.

We got there, and I tried to read the thermometer over the tech's shoulder. Looked like something in the 96's or 98's but I'm not sure. Definitely bloated in his upper GI tract, more towards his chest where I didn't think to look.

They checked his teeth to see if that was the problem, but they said his teeth looked perfectly normal. I guess his molars have somehow ground themselves down since our last visit.

So, not knowing the source, they gave him IV fluids and a Reglan injection. Sent me home with meds. Reglan and Simethicone 3x/day, critical care 4x/day, call us if it gets worse.

They said it was good that I recognized a problem, the fact that he was still pooping means that we caught it early before it got more serious. Man was it serious to me.

I'm calling the ASPCA

Biffington does NOT like to take his medication. The only thing that he doesn't seem to mind is the Reglan, I guess it's yummy. I guess part of the problem is that I have to hold him to feed him. And Biffers is NOT a bunny who likes to be picked up. He started eating last night, (not back to normal just yet), so hopefully we won't need to medicate him much longer and we can leave him alone.

So, he gets his meds and critical care, doesn't swallow them, and spends the remainder of the day cleaning the mess off of his fur, until next dose.

Biff is only 2 and a half, and has never been sick before. I know stasis can happen at any time for any reason. I guess I just thought I had more time to enjoy them being healthy.

Busy Busy

Hi There, remember us??

We've been very busy, and a little confused. Mom's always looking at books or her computer (I don't know why she didn't learn when I tried to teach her a lesson with the first computer...). Sometimes she goes to work, sometimes she doesn't go until it's almost time to come home! Also there was lots of boxes and furnitures coming in two weeks ago. Jon's mom kept saying "Oh my God, you're so CUTE! Do you know you're so cute?" Yeah, we know.

So after the big shuffling of the stuff, and all the boxes, Jon has stayed with us every single night. And we thought all the moving around was finally DONE, and we could finally settle into a routine. But apparently, Mom and Jon can't leave well enough alone.

This is our nook. You like it? Nice and close to the books to chew on.

They got some more big flat boxes from the UPS man late last week. They spent all day on Saturday playing with those darn boxes and all of the thick flat boxes inside those boxes, and screws and a hammer. They worked really hard on those boxes, (but me and Sogna work hard on our boxes, too!) all day on Saturday, and seemed pretty proud of their finished product.

They went to our Aunt Katie's house to see her new place and Big Scary Dog. We thought, they worked so hard on their project, but it's still not quite right, so we should really help them out.

When they got home, Jon looked like he was going to puke. He said something about it being expensive.

Here I am, admiring our handiwork. What do you think, looks better, right?

The Sogna girl helps me admire our handiwork. We're very please with ourselves and don't understand why Mamma and Jon are so upset.

______________________

Oh yeah, we also removed the entire corner from the carpet already! YEAH!!! Stupid Mom didn't take any pictures yet, so get excited for next time!

Sogna helps Mamma study! And various ramblings

First I wanted to say thanks for all the comments on my last post, especially all of BL's friends who visited, most of whom I hadn't "met" yet.

The story actually reminds me in some strange way to my favorite speech from Plato's Symposium, given by the comedian Aristophanes. It's silly but really beautiful.

Here's the gist:he explains that at one time, all people had two heads, two sets of appendages, were basically like two people stuck together, but actually one individual. At one point, Zeus got angry, as he often did, and used his lightening bolts to split each individual in two. And so we are to spend our lives, searching for our other halves. And the wholeness that we experience when we find them is called "Love."

OK, that's enough of the serious mushy stuff. Frivilous bunny picks:

My study buddy.

I don't know how it's possible for me to be so far behind. School doesn't start until Monday, yet I have eight assignments that I have been "advised" to complete by then. I've completed one, almost done with the second. Ahhhh!!!

Buns still seem very happy in their big new apartment. Desperately trying to explore the bedroom, which is off limits, and I think Biff is in love with the bathroom, but I try not to let him in there because it's a little scary. I woke up this morning to find the dirty old toilet brush that the landlord so kindly left us in the doorway of the bathroom. Who put that there!

Oh and no PeeChair since Sunday or Monday, I can't remember, but that's a good thing!

Also, I found a website that has plastic wire cover in seven or eight different colors! I bought 100 ft of white plastic pre-slit tubing for $29!!! (White SHELL, White!!!!!) and it will be much less of an eye sore than the black stuff, especially against my white walls and carpet. Let me know if you want the website.

Someone's doots smell, any thoughts? Should I be worried?

OK, long weekend ahead. Wish me luck!!!

I can hear RG scoff from New York...

This is a blog about Love.

I made that assertion on Valentine's Day, and I believe it is true. This post is most certainly no exception.

Before I begin, let me warn you that it may seem strange, at first, that I am writing a post about two buns loved and lost from the Houseful of Rabbits. All will be revealed in time my friends. (Yes, that's a Chili Peppers quote).

Actually, this all may just sound really strange. And you may think BL and I are completely off our rockers.

In any event, here goes:

Scooter was a big, sweet bun that BL had bought for her granddaughter. Rejected by Granddaughter's parents, he stayed with BL and RG at the Houseful of Rabbits. BL loved him very much, he would snuggle in bed with her and lick her face.

Unfortunately, Scooter was ill-fated. He contracted a debilitating parasite, and in the summer of 2005, he had to be put down to save him further suffering. BL was distraught.

Scooter

(Look familiar? Just wait. Story gets stranger.)

Later, Stanley came to join the Houseful of Rabbits. He was also originally intended as a gift, for RG's daughter, but he was unhealthy so BL thought it best to keep him. He struggled with illness for most of his sweet little life.

One day, BL was snuggling with Stanley in bed, when she felt Scooter's presence there with her, reassuring her, telling her that he was OK, he was in a better place and he was no longer suffering. She was relieved, and was finally beginning to heal after the loss of Scooter.

But was it possible? Scooter and Stanley had never met in life, yet BL was sure that she had felt Scooter's energy through Stanley. Perhaps, the answer is that, although the two had never met, Scooter and Stanley were Soul Mates. Two lives intertwined. Two bodies, one spirit.

This is Stanley.

Stanley passed away in the Spring of 2008, around the same time Biffy came to live with me. Is it possible that Scooter was reborn, and that I found him in a pet shop in Manhattan? And that after Stanley had done his job of comforting BL, he passed away in order to be reborn and find his soul mate. And that Stanley was reborn as Randy/Sogna (originally thought to be a boy), only to suffer more before being dumped in a Staten Island shelter (January 2010), believed to be a lost cause and scheduled for euthanasia, rescued by a wonderful woman with the NYC Rabbit Rescue and Rehab, nursed back to health making a full (and unexpected) recovery, and later adopted?

Maybe it's just a bizarre series of coincidences. But if any of this is even possibly real, then I'm beginning to be convinced that everything happens for a reason. Two soul mates stayed apart so that Stanley would be around to help BL cope with the loss of Scooter. And Sogna's foster mom was in the right place at the right time to save her from death row. And Biff and Sogna, who bonded almost right away after meeting at the shelter on May 17th, 2009, a little over a year after Stanley's passing. (I was told at the time she was believed to be approximately a year old). And that Biff and Sogna both happened to be at the shelter that day?? Had Biff and I gone to meet does a day earlier, Sogna may not have been there. Ours was Sogna's first introduction to a potential adopter. And had we gone any later, Sogna may have gone to a different home. Or Foster Mom may have decided to keep Sogna, which she was already considering heavily. If any of these coincidences had not worked out the way they did, these soul mates may have had to wait another lifetime to finally meet.

And maybe I joined blogger so that I could meet BL, befriend her, and let he know that the souls of her boys live on in Biff and Sogna, happily ever after.

Happily Ever After, whatever their true names may be.

So, who (Besides RG) thinks BL and I are crazy???

What a Crazy Week!!!

Mom had been talking all kinds of nonsense, telling us we're going to go to a new place, and that she hopes we like it, and try to be brave.

"What is she talking about, Biffy?"

"Don't care."

After that, things got really strange. There were boxes and bags everywhere, and mom and Jon were putting all of our stuff into them!!!

"What is happening to all of our stuff, Biffy???"

"I don't know, Sogna. I'm investigating now."

We asked Mom and Jon to PLEASE stop touching our things, but they didn't listen.

Then, we thought we were going to Mima's house. But it just didn't seem right. Our stuff never had to get all messed up to go to Mima's before...

"Where are we going Biffy? I'm scared."

We had to stay in the little box for what felt like days. Then, we got put down in a big room, and let out into the little pen that lived in the closet. There was a door at the end of the room that Pops kept opening and closing, throwing in big boxes and stuff.

We had to stay in that little pen for more than 24 hours!!! Oh, the humanity!!!! Mom kept saying something about us not being safe, there was plastic and wires and something about the landlord being disgusting and leaving filth and sheetrock and paint chips all over the floor.

Friday night, we got released from jail. We ran at top speeds Mom had never seen before. And binkied!!! She thought, we must be doing ok if we were binkying!!!

Jon and Biffers enjoying the space.

Mom here:

Sogna seems happy. She's able to move about freely, not confined by any wood floors, and there's a nice maze for the buns to spend their days in safely. And the pen is still up, until the buns are comfy here.

It's much bigger and quieter than the old place. We'll always miss it there, and maybe someday we'll go back to the noisy neighborhood, but I think everyone will be ok here for awhile.

Biffy seems like his usual disapproving self.

Buns are not supposed to go in the bathroom (because it's not clean enough yet), or the bedroom (permanently, so there will be no more pee bed), but they've managed to get a good look at both already (without incident).

I do miss being able to watch them play as I fall asleep at night. And leaning over the side of the bed petting Sogna as we both fall asleep, almost every night. It doesn't feel right to not be able to know what they're up to when I wake up and when I go to sleep. But I think if PeeBed continues, Jon will leave me. OK I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me too.

Now we just need to cross our fingers that when Jon and his couch move in, PeeBed will not be modified into PeeCouch!!!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend!!!

P.S. - T minus one week until school starts!!! And I just found out I need to to the first two weeks' homework in advance, even though I don't have the book yet. Wooo Hooooo wish me luck!!!

I'm back!

Hi Mom, where ya been?? -Sogna, sitting like a wild hare.

I just got back from five days in Vegas. Came home to an apartment that was pretty thoroughly trashed. Bedroom was covered in fur and doots. And the bed, of course, was also covered with doots and soaked with urine (good thing I've been covering it with a thick plastic sheet over two layers of nylon tablecloth material).

See, we know HOW to use the litter box, we just choose not to when we're angry.

Still, I was thrilled to see my sweet babies, who I'd missed like crazy all week.

Things are about to get pretty crazy around here (even crazier than usual). As soon as I get over the jet lag, I will commence a cleaning and packing frenzy. The gameplan is to move to the new place in two weeks. I will have no free weekend for cleaning/packing activities, since this weekend I was recovering (though I cleaned a little), and next weekend I have my cousin's engagement party and then bridesmaids' dress shopping on Sunday (can anyone explain WHY we would buy dresses a year before the wedding? I can almost promise it won't fit by then).

After the move, things are going to get wacky, almost right away. One week to unpack before school starts. Since classes are 6:30-10:30 pm and Mom is still working, buns will have early breakfasts, VERY late dinners, and Mom hardly ever around. Things will get somewhat back to normal when Jon moves in and can be trained to serve dinner on time.

I leave you with some pics of the cutest little baby bunny EVER!

Biff, circa 2-3 months old

Happy 9th of July?!

I've been meaning to post all week, but I've been really lethargic and haven't felt well. Have I mentioned that I hate pharmaceuticals?

Anyway. Happy 4th of July!!!

My poor bunnies got dragged out to my parents' house on Friday night. I was too worried about the fireworks to leave them in the city all alone.

Saturday evening, when it started to cool off, I took the buns out on the deck for some exercise. I don't know how much they really like it out there, but I didn't want them in their pen for three days straight.

Little did they know...

Little did Sogna know at the time this picture was taken that she would soon be licked by a Big Scary Dog.

Maddie really is a very good dog, and a very smart dog. But she has some telling nicknames. "The Mayor." "Inspector." and "Policedog." She just needs to inspect everyone and everything that comes inside, or even near, her home and her family.

Maddie is always trying to get near the buns. If I open the door to my room for her, she sits obediently and looks at them longingly. (She knows she's not allowed in). But they're terrified of her. As a guard dog, she's pretty noisy, and she doesn't understand a bunny's value of personal space.

When I carried Biffy inside, I stopped in the kitchen so my family could sat hi. Maddie sat down at my feet. So I let her smell him. She buried her nose in his fur, just trying to get a good sniff.

Then, when I brought Sogna in, I did the same. Sogna is slightly less afraid of Maddie. Maddie started licking her!! I don't know if Sogna liked it, she probably didn't so I whisked her away.

Maddie loves her family very much. I think she knows that Biff and Sogna are my family, and thus hers too. And she can't understand why she isn't allowed to get to know part of her family. After she was allowed to get a good look and sniff, she didn't bother the buns. She didn't try to follow me upstairs to put them away. I think she was satisfied.

Sunday we had a party to celebrate the 4th of July and my birthday. There were too many people around and it was just way too hot, so the buns had to stay in the air conditioning. They got plenty of chamomile and some fresh catnip to calm their nerves.

Then, Monday was my birthday, so we stayed a bit longer to have lunch with my family. We got on a fairly late train, to try to avoid some of the holiday train traffic. Turns out the trains were actually delayed up to 114 minutes, because of congestion from so many people getting on the train at each stop!!!

Finally, we made it home. Phew. It was a long and exhausting weekend, and the buns were happy to be home.

Pretty clear from this picture that the excessive shedding has barely slowed down. I pluck every day, and brush as often as I can actually CATCH the bunnies to brush them, but they just seem to keep shedding! It's been at least two months of ridiculously heavy shedding. I'm so tired of torturing the buns with plucking, brushing, and vacuuming. When will it end?!

That's all for now.

Have a great weekend everybunny!!!