Sunday 19 June 2011

MY POOR BABY GIRL!

My little Simone has been really poorly all week, she spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the vets. She seemed to be picking up but drastically went down hill yesterday.

It all started last Sunday when she started with a yucky brown discharge coming out of her nose and a weepy closed up eye. I also noticed she had a red and raw hind paw. She kept licking it and when i investigated it was all yucky, red and infected. First thing Monday she was at the vets.

Her vet Gemma said she had a nasty infection in her paw and some sort of viral infection going on in her nose & throat. She had a raging temperature and was not eating or drinking. She gave her anti-inflammatory & antibiotic injections which she had for 3 days on the trot and then i was given oral antibiotics to give her at home. Gradually she started picking up.

Yesterday Morning when we woke up she was really sheepish and wouldn't eat or drink at all. She was so listless and down and by the evening she looked like she was in a lot of discomfort. I was even trying to get fluids down with a syringe so she wouldn't get dehydrated. I couldn't even get her antibiotics in to her and i noticed she was really struggling to swallow.

This morning i got Simone straight into the vets and when he examined her she had a temperature of 40.5!!! she had all nasty lesions in her mouth and by then a nasty crusty scab on her nose. She has finally been diagnosed. It's CAT FLU!!!.
Although she is vaccinated annually and an indoor cat she has somehow managed to get it. Apparently it is like human flu where we can still get it despite having the flu vaccine but we just do not get it as bad.

My poor baby girl. Thankfully he has given her a slow release injectable antibiotic (which will cover her for 2 weeks) so she will not get stressed out having to have them by mouth. He also gave her a high dose anti-inflammitory with painkiller for her pain. I have got to take her back tomorrow and if she hasn't picked up she will have to stay in and go onto a drip. If she is a bit better i will be able to give her oral painkillers to keep her comfortable. My little angel is going to need a lot of care as it will take her a while to get over it. She has picked up quite a bit since she has been home and has managed to have a little water and some special food the vet prescribed. She seems to pick up more once the painkillers take effect. 



This is my beautiful baby girl tonight. Look at her poor nose. She looks so bony where she has not been eating.

I am praying that my Bert will not get it. The vet said that there is no reason why he should as he reckons the reason Simone has got it is because she was low through getting an infected paw.

HERE IS MY GORGEOUS BOY BERT

THIS WAS TAKEN ON THURSDAY WHEN SIMONE HAD PICKED UP

Please will everyone pray for my little girl and also pray that Bert doesn't get it. I will keep you all up to date on her progress.

Thankyou for listening


Big hugs Clare xxx


HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO THE BEST DAD IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS IS DAD WITH MY ELDEST BROTHER ANDY TAKEN YESTERDAY


I guess we are all saying this today!!!. I am sooooo lucky to have such a lovely Dad. Although Mum is no longer around he still tries to do things that he knows Mum would want. He is the best!!!.

Just want to wish all those Dad's out there HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. I also want to let all those who's Dad's have passed that i am thinking of them. I know just how hard it is with losing Mum.


I made Dad this non fussy card!!!. Dad is not into fancy, pouffy (as he calls them lol!) cards so i kept it simple. I refuse to buy a shop card so this is what he got!!!!.

Love you Dad xxxx

Thursday 16 June 2011

APOLOGIES FOR NO COMMENTING!!!

Just wanting to apologise to everyone as i am unable to comment on people's blogs at the moment because of stoopid Blogger. Is anyone else having problems???
I am writing my comment and it asks for my password which i type in, it then takes me back to your blog and i press the comment box to post my message and it just keeps taking me back to rewrite my blinkin password, grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Is this happening to anyone else????. I feel really bad as everyone must think im really rude for not commenting.

Hugs Clare xxx

Tuesday 14 June 2011

A LITTLE EXTRA CHALLENGE #1 - CARD AND A HALF

Firstly i owe my Sister Helen a big apology. I was too late to add this card to her very first challenge on her new blog site Card and a Half the deadline being 14th June. I was not thinking Australian time as they are so many hours in front of us derrrrr!!!. So instead i am going to add my card to her "A Little Extra Challenge #1" which is to make a male card and to use embossing folders and punches.

The due date for us Pommies will be 18th but if unsure you can always go check the Mr.Linky tag where there is a countdown (which maybe i should have done lol!).


This is my first card in a while and my mojo is a bit challenged at the moment!!!. I used the same sketch for Helen's first challenge.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE & GREEN BAZZIL CARD
DAISY BUCKET "UNDER THE BOARDWALK" PAPERS
PENNY BLACK BIRTHDAY STICKEROO
BUTTON, TWINE, RIBBON, PEEL OFF & STUDS FROM STASH
MARTHA STEWART BUBBLE BATH BORDER PUNCH
GLOSSY ACCENTS


Helen will have her second monthly challenge going up very soon and will be announcing last month's winner. Thankyou to everyone who has shown their support it really is so appreciated. Anyone who hasn't visited go check it out HERE.

I have got so many cards to make it is frightening thinking about it!!!. Oh well one at a time i guess.

Thankyou for stopping by.

Big hugs Clare xxx

Sunday 12 June 2011

HEDGEVILLE 2011

I know that this is a post which has been pending for a few weeks and have had so many requests to do an update on the hedgehogs in my garden. I do apologise guys and know a lot of you understand due to ill health, BUT this does not mean that this has affected Hedgeville in anyway and i have plenty to report about our lovely friends, some great but some sad too. This may be a long post with plenty of news & piccies so may want to grab a cuppa!!!!. Here are some pics of the first hoggies i photographed of 2011. Just bear in mind that some pics have been taken behind the conservatory door!.

THESE TWO LITTLE BEAUTIES ARE TRYING TO FATTEN UP AFTER BEING IN HIBERNATION FOR WEEKS. IT DOES NOT TAKE THEM LONG!!!
ANOTHER VISITOR!!!

I have only just been able to clean out the two hedgie cabins as they have been occupied all over the Winter!!! i am so happy knowing i was able to provide a safe & warm home for hibernation for some hoggies. I have left food out all year around and i monitored the tell tell signs that the hedgehogs had ventured out during their hibernation period (like the tiny hoof prints they had left in the snow when it was bad!!!). On the sad side when me and Dad were cleaning out one of the cabins we found a dead hoggy in there which had died during hybernation. I was quite shocked as the cabin was still being used as a home to other hoggies so it had obviously not bothered them.
Me and Dad redesigned Hedgeville adding more rockery and logs. I have let that whole area of the garden to become overgrown for their protection and to encourage them into the garden. I am going to buy more plants and build up more logs and nooks and crannies for them. The biggest thing i want to do though is invest in another couple of cabins which is imminent. It has not been uncommon when i do my checks to have a couple of hedgies in one cabin so feel there is a need for more housing. I promise i will take pics of Hedgeville when the sun comes out!!!.

FOR THOSE NEW TO MY BLOG THIS IS ONE OF THE CABINS THAT HOUSES THE HEDGIES BEFORE IT WAS PUT INTO HEDGEVILLE. ALTHOUGH SHE TRIED HARD MY LITTLE PRINCESS SIMONE COULD NOT FIT IN THE ENTRANCE!!!
THIS IS THE CABIN WHICH IS USED INSIDE FOR THE POORLY OR HOGGIES WHICH NEED LOOKING AFTER WHEN THEY NEED SOME TLC.

Ok so far this year there has been two casualties. BARNEY being the first poorly hoggy.

SORRY THE PIC IS A BIT FUZZY BUT A CLOSE UP OF BARNEY

THIS IS MY GORGEOUS BOY BERT GIVING BARNEY A PROTECTIVE SNIFF!

 THIS IS ANOTHER HEDGIE CALLED BERYL WHICH HAD TEAMED UP WITH BARNEY. I THINK SHE WAS PROTECTING BARNEY. BELIEVE IT OR NOT BARNEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME SIZE AS BERYL BUT WHERE HE WAS SO SICK IT HAD AFFECTED HIS GROWTH.

 
I had brought in Beryl and Barney to be de-ticked which is part of my care for them as if left they can make the poor hoggies really sick & anaemic. I had noticed how tiny Barney was and as i was checking nightly i had noticed that he was dragging his hind left leg. I contacted Monica at the Wildlife Trust for advice and she asked me to bring him indoors and look after him till the following day when she would pick him up to take him to the sanctuary vets. She thought that perhaps he had a broken leg which could be treatable as long as any infection was not bad and gone into the bone.
Monica rang me on the Saturday evening (Barney was collected on the Friday) to give me the shock news that poor little Barney had been put to sleep. He had not got a bad leg after all but a massive ulcer in his poor tummy which was pulling his leg up presumably through the pain. He was in a bad way and the kindest thing to do was to let him go. I do not mind admitting to you all but i cried and cried all night. I had been looking out for him for a few weeks and had gotten so attatched. Monica had said though that had i not been feeding him and looking after him he would have been suffering a lot more and would probably have starved to death not being able to get to food. I also know that he had a good night when he was her with plenty of food and water and a lovely nest with fresh straw, oh and a big conservatory to sniff around in!. Here are some more pics of little Barney i would like to share;


I KNOW I DID MY BEST FOR LITTLE BARNEY & I AM GLAD HE IS NO LONGER SUFFERING XXX

 
My second casualty is Millie who was showing signs of Mange and also appeared to have a poorly left hind leg (i know alarm bells!). I nursed Millie for a couple of nights until Monica could come examine and pick her up. When Monica arrive she confirmed that she did indeed have Mange but was unable to examine her leg as Millie was playing hard to get!!!. One suprise though is that Monica thinks Millie could be pregnant with hoglets due to her shape!!! i would be so thrilled if she is. I just hope that she has no other problems that would jeopordise this. I have got to wait until Monday to find out the verdict so will keep you all posted. I have taken some lovely pics of Millie in the conservatory being looked after.

I HAD TO GET LITTLE MILLIE READY FOR MONICA TO EXAMINE

MILLIE DECIDES THAT SHE REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO BE SOCIABLE!

OK SO SHE DECIDES THAT MAYBE SHE WILL STICK HER LEG OUT!

OK IF I REALLY HAVE TO I WILL STICK OUT MY SNOUT!!!

MIGHT EVEN TRY AND HAVE A LITTLE WANDER!

So there is little Princess Millie. I am keeping everything crossed that her prospects are good but unfortuanely as i have just learnt, nature and wildlife can be very up and down. There is a fine balance between letting nature take it's course and having to know when you have the right to intervene. As Hedgehogs are a protected species i know we need to look after these beautiful little creatures though and suffering is one thing i cannot bear to see.

I promise that i will keep you all posted ok. Im so sorry that it is such a gynormous post but i know all of my genuine hoggy followers will really appreciate it, especially as you have been nagging me about it!!!.

A very big thankyou to all for your beautiful and kind comments from yesterdays post. It really does mean so much to me.

Thankyou for stopping by.

Love & hugs Clare xxxx




Friday 10 June 2011

Really Not Sure Where to Start...........

So just going to give you as brief an update as possible.  Since my last update i have been really poorly and had another 2 bad flare ups with the kidney stones. In the end i had to have an emergency hospital appointment with a Urologist on Wednesday evening to be told that i have got to have an operation.
I am not sure how long it will be but i am on an emergency list. Although i have been passing stones (well more like grit!) the specialist thinks that it is only particles from much bigger stones inside. He needs to remove the stones and to check if there has been any damage to my kidneys. I am hoping that they can be removed easily as it will be open surgery if not.
At the moment i am on painkillers and the specialist has put me on a drug to try to prevent any further, although until they can tell what type and what is causing them it will be a bit hit & miss.
He has told me that it is not a very nice op and will take 2 to 3 weeks to get over it and be pain free as such. You know the way i feel at the moment guys, it surely cannot be any worse than the beginning of a flare up as you just do not know what to do with yourself when you are in agony, throwing up and sweating profusely!!!. I can honestly say that i have never know pain like it and i have experienced a lot in my lifetime.

So i am going to keep you all updated, try and get back into creating as i have not done any in weeks and got so much to do. I also have a few things to share with you all so please bear with me. I may be slow but i will get there!!!.

Thankyou to all of my lovely friends who have been emailing, texting, phoning and sending cards. It really does make me feel better.

Lots of love
Clare xxxxx

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