Rabbit Trauma

My coffee has gone cold. Just like when the girls were tiny and you never got a hot cup of anything. Today is a bit intense.

So to catch you up, in case you are interested in rabbit issues, Betsy's lump seems to have been a reaction to the vaccine. She was prescribed antibiotics initially in case it wasn't - apparently the same sort you get for children (banana flavour). Funny then that it cost £8.90 for about 140ml.

Getting her to take it wasn't easy. The vet suggested one of us hold her lower back down to the table and the other give the medicine by syringe. It worked once or twice but overall I wouldn't recommend this method. Unless you want a) biting, b) kicking and c) a great sense of frustration. At one point she jumped out of my arms and onto my shoulder like a parrot. I couldn't use my tried and tested child medicine method and give her a Chewit afterwards. She isn't allowed.

Google advised wrapping her in a towel and holding her legs under and forward which was more successful. By the end of the week we had the method down which was typical because of course the antibiotics did nothing whatsoever.

So yesterday it was back to the vets and he decided it was necessary to remove the lump (at the cost of the people who make the vaccine apparently, which is a good job taking into account the cost of the medicine). So I left her there. I felt like a bad mother on all sorts of levels and spent the day achieving little and fretting a lot.

At 3.30 we picked her up. The girls did well I thought - they didn't seem horrified by the large bald patch and sewn up wound. The nurse told us we have to keep an eye on her to ensure she eats and drinks, and to keep her apart from Petal as her sister might try and bite her wound. She assured us Betsy couldn't reach her own wound to bother her stitches.

Wrong again. This rabbit is like Houdini. She is stretchy and bendy and on returning home I realised she was not going to leave them alone. When she started pulling at her back with her teeth I rang the vet and he advised trying to stick a plaster over the wound. This advice, it turned out, was not wholly sound. I managed to scare the living daylights out of Betsy chasing her round her hutch trying to stick plaster after plaster to the patch of skin. Each one I put on she tore off in seconds. Eventually I built up a sort of plaster patchwork - I used everything I had. Tiny round ones to hold on massive big ones, joined together by normal long ones. She ripped them all off. I hoped the kids didn't choose that moment to fall over as our supplies were running low.

Then she managed to rip a stitch and I stuck the final plaster over the bleed while I checked the opening times and rang the vet again. By the time I was back downstairs she had ripped it off and there was no sign of it. So now I was  panicking about the stitches and the fact that she has clearly eaten a Boots plaster. Which I'm sure doesn't fit into the category of only hay, grass and nuggets.

The nurse was amazing. She agreed to come over on her way home, bringing with her a cone even though they don't normally put them on rabbits. Apparently the situation she has had is extremely unusual being so little and she has to leave the stitches alone. She explained everything, chatted to us and put the cone on Betsy, then went home.

At this point everything got a bit out of hand. Betsy, as predicted, hated it. She threw herself about and generally looked extremely stressed. The kids got upset. It was awful.

Eventually the girls went to sleep and we decided to trim the cone down so she could drink and eat properly. This we did and we left her for a while to get used to it, feeling extremely guilty.

When we went back outside before bed we discovered she had managed to push the cone up so her mouth was sticking out, but the cone was over her eyes and ears. It was a bit of a surprise (I told you she was like Houdini) and the approach did have it's merits. She couldn't reach her stitches but could eat and drink. Of course it was stuck around her eyes so she couldn't see and it was still fastened round her neck so we decided her plan wasn't a great one. The decision was made to bring her indoors and take off the cone. Not least because we'd worked out we might have to hand feed her her own poo. 

Paul stayed up until 2am working next to her, with a window open on his laptop showing a webcam. Everytime she went for her stitches he stopped her, until he came to bed exhausted. At 4am I came downstairs and took over. I've never slept on the kitchen floor before. It reminded me of camping. What with the sound of the pouring rain on the roof and me wearing more clothes than I had worn in the day including a pair of hiking socks. I'm not sure being down here helped much with the stitches but it did at least make me feel like I was trying to help.

And today? Well today I still can't bring myself to put the cone back on. It's too distressing. So instead I am doing things that take place in the kitchen. Blogging and minute writing, cleaning, I might even stretch to a bit of ironing. Interspersed of course with telling Betsy off every three minutes for biting her stitches. And for eating the carpet. She really hasn't a clue about this restricted diet for junior rabbits things. Deep joy. I'm hoping the sound of the washing machine will make her fall asleep like it used to for Tilly, although so far it's not looking promising.

Oh well it's only for a couple of days until she will apparently lose interest in the stitches as they start to properly heal.

It's just as well I like a bit of camping. 

Harder than I thought

Ok so this rabbit malarky is trickier than I at first thought.

1. I assumed the rabbits would stay in the run with the top off and enjoy their semi freedom. I did not realise that even at 11 weeks they could jump up the side of the run and freely enter the garden without so much as breaking a rabbit sweat.

2. I've done my research. Little rabbits should only have grass and nuggets for the first 16 weeks ish. Fine I thought, that's no problem. But see point 1 - it's hard to control what they nibble when they aren't where they are supposed to be. Over the weekend I wrestled heather out of their mouths in some bizarre rabbit vs human tug of war.

3. Then there's vaccination. I was smug and did this immediately we brought them home. Partly to double check that they are girl rabbits, and mostly so I can be assured they don't catch horrible illnesses. But then last night I noticed a lump on Betsy's back, and today it looks like a sore on the skin and a lump under it. So it's back to the vets. It's either a reaction to the myxomatosis (essentially a bit of the disease, if so ugh) or she's hurt herself while leaping out of the run (see point 1) or we have hurt her when trying to catch her and put her back. Or she has hurt herself while trying to leap out when the top is actually on. She is a bit dozy. All of these possibilities and more have me extremely worried. Did I really order this extra emotional stress? Surely I can't have irrevocably damaged her in less than three weeks? If it carries on like this I'll need counselling.

4. Oh and there's all the planning. Paul and I have talked endlessly about getting a gate on the side of the house and attaching chicken wire around the shed and decking bottom so they can't disappear underneath never to be retrieved. It sounded great in theory. If only we had actually got round to doing it.

Today I didn't slide the catch on the run gate shut enough and the rabbits have seemingly been out in the garden for about two hours today. I nearly had a heart attack when they weren't in their run and the top was still on. I nearly ran down the street screaming "Rabbit theft!". Of course they had simply used their skills and thrown themselves at the door until it opened and sought their freedom.

They had a whale of a time essentially eating things they shouldn't be eating (see point 2) and hiding under the shed (ah the planning). The neighbours must have loved my swearing and running around the garden liked a possessed woman, and especially giggled at my trying to squeeze down the side of the shed. I tried to tempt Petal with a dandelion leaf. Which is ironis since she isn't supposed to be eating them yet. She was disinterested but probably because she was full up of things of other things she shouldn't have been eating.

Eventually I caught her and went back to the run to put her in. Of course I had very wisely shut and locked the top and door so Betsy didn't get out. I couldn't open it without putting down the rabbit. I tired doing it one handed and inevitably lost Petal again for another ten minutes. Should this really be like the Crystal Maze? And if so where are all the prizes?

So I'm laughing and yet weeping at the same time. And I still have to go to the vets yet to see whether Betsy is alright. Please don't let me have to nurse her back to health with a pipette.

Planning

It's all a bit odd this work thing. Especially since I don't start my new job for nearly five weeks. So my intention is to grasp these last weeks of freedom with both hands. Quite why I'm sat in the office typing blog entries then I'm not sure.

Things I need to do before starting work:

1. Organise Phoebe's party and birthday presents. Apparently she wants fish. Our house is turning into a pet shop.

2. Finish my children's novel. I just have to work out how they find the dragon and get on with it. Just to say I have.

3. Arrange very exciting lovely things to do in half term. Oh boy do I feel guilty that I'm not going to be around as much in the holidays.

4. Paint decking and garden furniture. Dull, dull, dull but necessary. And I refuse to spend weekends doing it once I start work.

5. Filing and shredding. This has the added benefit of providing bedding for rabbits but it's still excruciatingly boring.

6. Planting and sorting out the garden in general. Of course I could just let the rabbits out to eat the plants which would make weeding less necessary.

And self indulgence since I can now justify this:

1. Spa trip with my best friend.

2. See Pesky and Nicky and lots of other lovely ladies lots while I can still drink coffee and shop.

3. Some gym time. I'm trying to see this as an indulgent thing despite actually still hating exercise. But if I can lose a bit of weight and get fitter before Abby's wedding that would be marvellous.

4. Try and write a play. I have something I can submit for and want to do it.

There. It feels like I should take advantage of the time more. Any ideas?

A Job

I've bitten the bullet and last week I was offered a job. It's in HR, which is allegedly my specialist subject, but this time an administration role. I wanted something that used my skills and experience but that would fit around the girls and this fits the bill. Plus they want me which helps.

It seems like a good place to work - a place with heart and one that's held in high regard. The people seem lovely and the hours are good.

This is a positive thing. But it is also a very challenging thing.

Emotionally I instantly feel guilty. I gave everything up to be a stay at home mum and I don't regret a moment of it. Everyone has to choose their own path and this was mine and I'm proud of it. This change is a significant one.

Me not being home in the holidays worries me. The girls, especially the little one, might be upset or angry. They might not, but guilt is the big thing about parenting isn't it?

And then there's the fact that we will have to be more organised. The house and chores have to be better than this because I'm not going to be around in the day to deal with it. Everyone will have to have roles. I wonder if rabbits are any good at hanging washing out.

I don't want to make things harder for anyone and it inevitably will change things. But it should also mean a bit more money coming in for those more exciting holidays (I love Whitby but one day I will get to Venice...) and the new windows and carpet we still need.

And more than all of this, it means I have a clearer sense of purpose in the day. I can do something really useful and be around new people. My brain can get a much required workout.

I'm looking forward to it, and yet I still feel the prickle of tears when I think about it. I've loved being at home with the girls and now it's not going to be the same any more. Change is a good thing. But the tears are inevitable.

Rabbit Rabbit

Oh my it's been a long time since I've typed anything. It's as if I can't do it when my head is so filled up with other things. Anyway all the other things are moving over to make room so it's time I caught up, in no particular order.

Get ready to go aaaaah. We have baby rabbits. Well ten week old ones anyway. One is called Betsy, the other has been through a couple of personality disorders but is now called Petal. Currently.

I'm not big on furry things to be honest. We had the school hamster home one weekend and I refused to touch it, frightened it would bite me (because that would have meant a trip to a&e surely), run up my cardigan sleeve or disappear under the piano for three weeks. Or die spontaneously. But then hamsters are a bit odd aren't they? They only live for about five minutes and they are awake at night. The wheel rattling noise would be a bit annoying if you were trying to watch 'Endeavour' in the other room.

I had goldfish when I was little. I remember clearly winning the first one at the fair (is that even allowed nowadays?). I loved them but they didn't exactly do much.

We also had a tortoise allegedly, not that I can remember him to be honest. He has become the stuff of legend. The tortoise who arrived in our garden one day without a word and disappeared a while after while Dad was digging in the rhubarb patch. I like to think he is a bit like the 'Littlest Hobo' and went off to help a family in distress. It's more comforting than any other soil related possibilities.

But I digress.

So we didn't have rabbits. I suppose there was a little part of me that would have liked a more substantial pet than a goldfish and maybe that is why I didn't say no when Tilly asked for a rabbit for her birthday.

Our rabbits are gorgeous. Fluffy, friendly (so far) and extremely cute. They chill me out when I'm mardy and I'm hoping they provide the girls with two pairs of large listening ears when ours won't do.

I am also hoping they will help overcome Phoebe's phobia of animals and so far that seems to be the case as she interacting with them loads. She'd still rather walk into the road than go past a dog though so we have some way to travel on that one...

I recognise that I will undoubtedly be the one cleaning them out for most of their lives, but that's ok. I'm used to a bit of mess. The fondness I have for them so quickly has surprised me a little. It's a lovely feeling.

Not so lovely is the fact that I saw a fox walking down our road in broad daylight. In the space of a week I have gone from thinking foxes fabulous to never wanting to see one again.

So far the only real negative I can see to having rabbits is the cost. We've already spent a small fortune. And I suppose there is also the fact that we are inevitably going to have to increase the size of their run to take over most of the garden. On the plus side they are excellent lawnmowers.

Having two new family members more than makes up for the cost. Just please don't let them die anytime soon, and when they do please let it be quietly and calmly in their old age.

Right now I'm off to give them a hug and to talk them through my anxiety over starting a new job (of which more later).

Eight Went to Palma - and back

And then it happened. It was time to go home. We all made it to the airport in time and onto the plane. which was ironic because several of us wouldn't have actually minded staying there a bit longer - it's more appealing than Manchester airport.

On the plane the theme of me and food continued as the flight attendant apologised profusely for the fact that most of the food had been eaten on the outbound flight. Genius. That'll be another chocolate muffin then.

Emma drove us back to Sheffield then Valda took me home where I was met by my beautiful girls leaping up and down. They had drawn a chalk sign on the pavement and I then had a cup of tea while I watched their swing show in the garden. It was nice to feel missed and so lovely to see them and Paul or course.

Ok so it had an unorthodox start, but other than that this was such a fantastic weekend away. I have made lovely new friends and Abby had a great girly send off. And I am still hide and seek champion so it's a win all round.

Thanks girls.

Eight Go to Palma - More

Day three and we went on the train to Soller through mountains and orange and lemon groves. Beautiful. Of course that was after we lost four of our party for ten minutes but we were getting used to it by then.

Getting there was lovely, as was lunch by the harbour and the ice cream. I did wish I could do it all again with the kids but I didn't feel guilty - it was just fab.

The journey back was less fun because the train was packed. A lady in front of me and Nic didn't take too kindly to us having the window open and we didn't want to fight a Spanish pensioner so we just sweltered a bit instead.

That night we had more larks in the room before setting off and our intention of an early night looked unlikely. Abby had her heart set on a particular restaurant so we wondered about trying to find it for a while in streets where men tried repeatedly to sell us dancing toy donkeys. We walked around in circles so many times they were actually taking bets between themselves as to whether we would be back again in a minute. Money exchanged hands when we did.

Nicky was brilliant. She knows Palma well and tried her level best to summon the restaurant Abby had in mind despite limited description. "It has palma ham hanging in the window and barrels". After Nicky produced her second wrong restaurant with palma ham and barrels it seemed unlikely we would ever find it. Then we did, hooray! But it was full and we couldn't get a table.

Man was I hungry by this point. We entered another restaurant and were given free drinks while we waited. I had a funny turn. Christ I'm middle aged.

Fortunately I then got to eat my body weight in olives and bread. And oddly lamb and chips. Nice though, even if it was the middle of the night ...