BAILEY UPDATE

Bailey spent the night in a medical cage in bed with me last night, so I could keep an eye on him. He did fine. He stayed alert and ate like a little piggy. Poos are normal, no blood from eye, ear or nose, so that's good. He was all about getting out and playing this morning, which I let him do (he is separated from Milo, of course). He loves playing with Misty and Angel, so I have them in the playroom and Milo and Ziggy are in the living room with me.

I stayed home from work today so I can keep an eye on Bailey and be able to get him to the vet if needed. He's got an open wound, which I'm cleaning with hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic ointment. He also has a big goose egg, which is the greater of my worries. Hopefully, he would have demonstrated having a more severe internal head injury by now, but I'll feel better after the 24-hour mark.

I really didn't see that the rumbles between Milo and Bailey were that bad. I'm praying it was an accident due too overzealousness on Milo's part. But I just don't know. Milo is going to be separated from Bailey for a while. After Bailey's head heals, I'll try reintroducing them under a CONTROLLED environment.

Woe is me.

BAILEY IS INJURED

Shit, crap. I wasn't watching close enough. Milo got ahold of Bailey and, I guess, bit him on top of the head, next to his right ear. He has two blood blisters and it looks awful. I found him hiding behind Keith's bookcase and he cried when I dragged him out. I cleaned it up, checked him over, fed him some duck soup and put him in his cage. He ate some kibble and is now sleeping. I'm jsut watching him now and praying we aren't gonna have an emergency vet visit.

It's my fault. Should've been paying closer attention. I feel awful.

:((((((

SNOW IS VERY SICK

Oh, geeze. It's 2:30 am and I'm up because I'm watching Snow. He suddenly got very ill earlier this evening and started having bloody diarrhea. He threw up blood, too. Now, he's resting. I've been giving him Pedialyte and Tylan.

Am going to call an emergency vet at 9, when they open. I just hope there's a ferret vet on duty. I'm so worried and scared.

CAN WE SAY "NERVOUS BREAKDOWN"?

Oh the drama. Rocky went missing last Sunday night. I went to put everyone to bed around 11:30 and couldn't find him anywhere. Ended up waking up hubby and we both began to tear the house apart searching for him. He was nowhere in the house. We thought back and realized I'd seen him last around 8:30 when he was helping me do the dishes and we played a bit in his pirate ship. I expected after that, he went to snooze in the Hidey Hole or his hammock under our bed.

Hubby remembers coming in about that time and opening the door that leads to our garage. Our garage door was also open. Could he have slipped out then?

We were out looking for him at 2 AM and I was hanging up "Lost Ferret" signs and posting on craigslist at 3 AM. I was in shock, felt like I was going to pass out, throw up - the whole bit. Harsh words between hubby and I added to the already nightmarish situation (we were both really scared).

I didn't really sleep; laid there, dreaming half-awake. Later on, Monday morning, I thought I'd just dreamed I'd lost him. But then the cruel realization hit me that it was indeed so. No Rocky came trotting in the kitchen to beg for treats. No Rocky running in-between my feet trying to trip me. No Rocky.

I was in total shut-down, sobbing hysterically all day Monday. I had a false alarm when someone posted on craigslist that they'd rescued a ferret the same night I lost Rocky. I contacted her, and it wasn't anywhere near where I live -- it wasn't my baby.

I was freaking out because of the heat and the dogs and the fact that little ferrets can't survive long on their own in this big world. I wondered if he missed me as much as I missed him. I put out a carrier, food, water and Ferratone for him. I even put ferret poo in the garden, praying he'd catch the scent and come back.

In the evening on Monday, my husband, son and I went out looking again. I was headed toward some bushes at a house when I looked up and noticed a car that pulled up to one of my signs. The lady was dialing her cell phone. I ran up to her car. "Did you find a ferret?," I asked. "Yes, I did", she said and she pointed to Rocky's picture and said, "That's him!"

Needless to say I about peed myself and jumped in her car (no pee in her car) and she took me to her house, which was about five houses down and across the street. There was Rocky, hiding under her shed. She noticed him peeking out at her while she was mowing.

He was a bit dirty, tired, hungry and thirsty and scared. Otherwise, unharmed. I am soooo grateful. I really didn't think we'd ever find him. It's so hot, no one is outside. He would have been so easy to miss.

I had prayers and postive, loving wishes from people all over the world. It is all of that outpouring of love that helped bring Rocky home to me. I believe that with all my heart. I am just overwhelmed with the power behind all of the energy that went out to us. Thank you, a million times over.

As for the lady who found my guy, her name is Rachael and was very sweet and (hopefully) didn't think I was too much of a lunatic. She got a reward of my undying gratitude and $ 100. And now Rocky owes me $ 100. LOL!

It is so good to have my Mamoo back home again!

NOW I'M SKEERED

I've printed all kinds of good information about how to start a non-profit organization off the internet, so I'm pretty clear on what I need to do. I was happy to know it is a $ 25 fee to file for incorporation for non-profits, and not $ 300, like I thought. I'm just so excited about finally doing this -- even on a very small scale, I know I can make a difference.

The hardest thing I'm going to have to learn is how to say, "no", when I am filled up and someone wants to surrender their ferret. And the second hardest thing will be letting one go to a new forever home. As long I keep the awareness of that in front of me, I'll be OK. It's that "catching me off guard" thing I need to worry about.

The other thing I'm kind of worried about is, will my friends in HAFA support this? We have one rescue we are loyal to - in fact I am quite involved and still wish to remain so. I emailed the director of HAFA and the president of the rescue last night and told them what I want to do. No word back yet--so I hope I haven't done something inappropriate....I hope they don't tell me to go find someone else to play with.. :/