A dumbo rat and a rex rat

by Judi on Oct 8, 2006

Em two months ago started working on talking me (and Bob) into a getting a rat. After a month, we worked up some “terms” to our agreement, and Em brought home her Dumbo rat, Otis, Labor Day weekend - she was about 3 months old. We thought Otis was a male…. but it turns out she’s really female. note: dumbo refers to the ears - they are larger and more on the side of the head, rather than more upright.

Because I love animals too, I started doing my own reading on rats, joined some rat groups and am learning more myself. One of the biggest things I was reading was how social rats are and they prefer living in communities of 2 or more.

It wasn’t hard to talk Bob into another rat, when it’s for the health of both of them. So last week, Em brought home a new cage (because we really felt the 20 gal aquarium was too small for one, let alone two)… and Pumpkin May a.k.a. FuzzButt. FuzzButt got her name from me, because she’s just a fuzzy little thing. We guess she was about 5-6 weeks old when we brought her home. Em said she thinks she’s a Rex and after looking at many pics, I’d agree. note: rex refers to a curly coat… and based on my own reading, I think a blue berkshire, which means solid color (in this case, a slate-blue color) with white belly, paws and tail tip.

After a 5 day quarrantine, Em introduced the two girlies. We fixed the cage, since it’s tall, we were able to put in a couple shelves and I made (quickly and terribly) a fleece hammock to hang. Both girls are now housed in the cage, and the aquarium has become a dig tank. Rats love to dig and tunnel. Em tore up several (and then several more) peices of paper towel and filled the aquarium about 1/3 of the way.. a peice of cage flooring works as a ladder. The girls are able to climb up and out of their cage-home and directly into the dig tank.

They are just too cute!

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Where in the World did September go!?

by Judi on Sep 23, 2006

Already the 23rd of September and I’ve only written 2 posts so far this month. Goodness, where has the time gone?

Earlier this month, I was [seemingly] constantly on the phone with an online charter school (eCOT) for Cas. It should have been a simple process to get her enrolled, but a simple piece of paper they needed, but didn’t specify clearly, put us smack in the middle of everyone else trying to get last minute registration done. Once that was complete, Cas was able to log in, but with no class information or teacher info. That took another week. In all, it took 3 weeks to get enrolled. And, upon downloading a file from their “home pc disc”, she ended up with a computer issue and had to reformat from the previous day (thank goodness she backs up daily!). Now she’s in and all is well.

In the meantime, Em was having some difficulty with ’self-discipline’ and when it came to doing math, she was having emotional breakdowns. Not because she couldn’t “get it”, but because she didn’t want to try. I figured we were less than a month into the school year and I didn’t want to fight with her, daily, or even weekly. So, off we went to enroll her in the middle school. Where, thankfully, she’s very happy to be. I think she wanted to go back to school for a while, but didn’t want to admit it, and didn’t want to make the choice herself, in case she really didn’t like it. Either way, she is there now and with only a week behind her, seems to be doing just fine.

Tege lost his first tooth — the first one that was ready anyway. He was very stressed about it. But Cas, his second momma, told him what she used to do with a loose tooth. Giving him a warm wet wash cloth, she told him to to wiggle it around with that and it would come out. Sure enough, out it popped. He was terribly surprised and excited! And the next morning thrilled to see the toothfairy visited to make him a trade, a tooth for a dollar.

Ry… he’s as good as ever. Talking up a storm, having a few tantrums, growing big.

New Addition…. Em, over a month ago, decided she wanted a pet. The particular breed she had in mind has many health issues that concerned me (as far as her being able to afford their care). I suggested she do some research on rats. A local pet shop had a couple of dumbo rats. After my time implemented research period was over, she managed to get the OK from Bob to get one… Otis, the Dumbo Rat, joined our family on Labor Day weekend at approximately 2-1/2 to 3 mos of age.

Aside from being busy with homeschooling, activities outside the home, running errands, school, I’ve teamed back up with my internet friend, Heidi from Healthy Kids Snacks, and we’ve started RecipeChicks.com… our first section is fruit smoothies. Before long, we’ll have more tasty sections added…. I know many visit here at Momma Muse in search of recipes… don’t forget to add RecipeChicks to your bookmarks, and join our newsletter too - as with Momma Muse - you will *not* be inundated with mailings from us at all. ;)

I’m also putting together another contest… stay tuned!

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