hazel is doing great. she was in heat last night, all frog-hoppy and vibrating ears :giggle: her spirits seem as high as ever. this girl LOVES to play, but appreciates a good cuddle with enthusiastic bruxing and boggling for ear rub. she is an absolute sweetheart and i am so glad that she is part of our family. even though she lost her babies, she doesn't seem the worse off for it. she is matronly though all the same. even though it is altana who is the birth-mother of kayi, neve and ellesmera it is hazel that dotes on my terrible trio and their gang leader scritter-baby. she was immediately accepted by all the rat-kids, not one huff or puff upon meeting her. she seems well loved. there is ALWAYS someone by her side either being groomed or grooming her. since tween passed on there wasn't really a grandmotherly rat in our group, though we had a couple nurses (now all gone as well), and it would seem that the colony really missed that roll being filled and that hazel has stepped right into it.
as for general health. she has shown no complications or ill affects of her lost litter. she is attentive, alert and very active. her fur is smooth and clean. no breathing noises, or body soreness anywhere. because she is in so good of apparent health and because her regular vet did not view it necessary to have an xray done i have canceled the xray to save hazel and myself the stress of an unneeded procedure as well as the headache for myself of having to deal with the evil vet. not to mention the money for the procedure.
so no babies, and that's probably just as well. but hazel is healthy and happy and quickly becoming a very big part of the family.
as for the people that have participated in the baby-poll, please send me your mailing address and i will send out one baby yarn rattie as default for having watched and waited and stressed along with me through all of this. if anyone else would like 1 baby yarn ratty please pm me your mailing address as well.
