Winter according to Bob

OK, so I probably should mention that Bob is actually, a russian tortoise. Well, we DID have Bob in our downstairs bathroom, on his nifty little table, in his tortoise approved, appropriate habitat. Well, gosh.....who knew that tortoises hibernated!! Bob hibernated for almost 3 months! So I start panicking...thinking...geez, if he doesn't EAT he's going to croak!! So we move Bob and his nine thousand pound habitat (ok, so not really, but it's HEAVY! Think 50bls of sand plus substrate, plus his rock plus the dry corncob half ) into the living room, with the toasty stove. I was worried, cause it took like a couple days, but finally, Bob is awake!! He's eating, moving around (as much as a tortoise does!) and seems like a normal healthy tortoise! I'm so happy! LOL!

We acquired Bob, when his family was moving, and somehow heard of the poor sap that rescues dogs! LOL! So he moved in last summer. We have found www.russiantortoise.org to be an invaluable resource to learn more about him and his proper care to keep him healthy and happy! It's a really great help! Although I am not real great with pets that don't YELL to be fed (ha ha ha!) he is an interesting little guy.

SO long story short...LOL ....we're glad Bob is no longer hibernating and didn't die on us before we even had him a year! LOL!!! We have no clue how old he is, so we have no clue how long we'll have him. They are supposed to live a loooooong time! lOL!!!

Mia update

Mia Update! 2/5/09

Mia is home from the vets at Kim H's!! She is drinking and doing well!! Several of the other pups have now come down with the same thing, so the whole litter is on antibiotics and close watch as well as supportive fluids, so keep them all in your prayers and thoughts!!!

We can use any donations you can give to support all the vet bills this litter of 10 is racking up for care!!!!! We are up to $400 so far, so thanks a ton to all those who have already helped out!!!! YAY!!!!!

Thought you'd all enjoy seeing how Mia is doing!!!

SO PROUD of my SON!!!!!

As most of you know, our son was recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome with ADHD. He has really been struggling with school the last three years, not so much academically, but with social skills and behavior. We knew that something was off, but it took so much paperwork, appointments, testing etc. so it was very frustrating for him, his teachers and us as well. But now that we've finally found out what was going on, we were able to get some treatment plans going to help him succeed!!

WE Know what a wonderful kid he is! He's soooooooo smart!!!! He can read well above grade level and has many interests and talents! He is helpful, sweet, caring, loving, wise (yes, as in wisea** like his mom!) with a great sense of humor and a great big brother to the girls! But it doesn't show at school as much, because of his difficulty writing, relating to others and being frustrated when he has trouble with something. But now with his IEP, counseling, therapy and treatment plans, he is doing so much better! Finally, they are starting to see him how we do!

Well this week, he has had two PERFECT days!!!! Today he got a certificate from his teacher!!!! It says:

"Way to go!!!!!! You did a great job on your journal, spelling, math and science partner work today! I am so proud of you!!"

And this is just so huge for him!!!!!! He has such a hard time with handwriting and working with peers, so he really has been trying so hard and he has done so well the last month!!!! We are SO PROUD OF HIM!!!!!!!! Way to go son!!!!! We know what an accomplishment this is for you and we are so proud of your hard work!!!! We love you more than words can say!!!!!!!

Update on Mia

Update on Mia - 2/3/09

Evening update on 2/2/09 - Mia is not stable yet, but is doing MUCH better and is holding her head up and more alert! They believe she may be stabilized by tomorrow and able to be transferred to her regular vet for care there. SO! Fingers crossed!!

Morning update 2/3/09 - Mia is stable! She has not had vomiting since yesterday morning, and no diahrea since the afternoon. She will be being released to Kim H of Hubbard's Hounds Dog Rescue to take to their regular vet now.

Afternoon update 2/3/09 - As of now, Mia has been release from Cornell, and is in the care of the rescue's regular veterinarian. She is having some diahrea again, but is alert, can hold her head up and is stable so that is HUGE!!!!

Unfortunately, another one of her littermates is starting to have some symptoms so has joined Mia at Dr. Millers vet today. Keep Dorrie in your prayers too please!!!! They are not totally out of the woods yet, but at least there is HOPE now that Mia will recover with time and fluids and supportive care. The cause of the infection is still unknown at this time, and often these things are never fully discovered. The pups will continue to be watched closely and given any supportive care that is needed.

Thanks so much for all of you who have given support to their care!!!! We are up to almost $200 tword the vet bill of over $2000, so it's a great start, but we can still use any help we can get!!

Page for Mia

Go here to help save my little Mia!!!!!

HELP SAVE MIA

Desperate Help Needed!!!!!

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sendi..ng out a desperate plea!.. Please send to EVERY..ONE you know!.. My new foster baby,.. a beautiful 7 week old puggle/chow mix puppy is in Cornell fighting for her life as we speak... I was in the hospital all nite with her. Our small rescue just does NOT have the kind of funds it's going to take to help her fight for her life. We are in DESPERATE Need of donations!!!!!!! Every dollar will help and will go 100% to save her life, and it is TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!!!!

Please Please go to HUBBARD'S HOUNDS and DONATE with paypal twords her care. I am also accepting donations at my home address:

Julia.. Hillman
c/o Hubbard's Hounds Dog Rescue
for Mia
7157 Prospect St
Ovid, NY 14521

Anything will help... I will be selling some items on Ebay to help and whatever else I can think of.

This poor puppy.., was just pulled with her 9 littermates, from a high kill southern shelter and brought to us here in NY on Saturday. I am just heartbroken at the thought that after.. all we've done to try to save her from death.., she may die anyway. She is Parvo negative, which is a blessing, but her little body is possibly septic, fighting some infection... As of 6am, they had her IV's going thru ICE trying to bring.. her temp down... She's a little fighter and is trying so hard to live........................please can you help?..?????

Julia
PS you can see Mia at SAVE MIA and click on "Puppies"

Christmas Jammies are the BEST!!!

OK, so every year, I make the kiddo's nice toasty new flannel jammies for Christmas!! Usually nightgowns for the girls, and two piece jammies for Johnny. This year Jazzy picked yellow with little elephants all over it (she's our elephant addict!) and Jenna picked this awesome cute flannel with little teenage type little cartoony girls all over. Johnny found an awesome pirate flannel, and with him being SO into pirates this year, well it was perfect! Julianna went NUTS for a purple with little baby monkeys all over it!! So cute!!!!

There was only one problem..........as soon as they came "hot off the press" or sewing machine as the case may be......I have them try em on to fit the elastic and hems etc......well......at the final fit........THE KIDS STOLE THEM!!!!!!! SO they didnt' have them to open Christmas eve!!! Little stinkers!!!! I think it's safe to say they loved them! LOL!!!!!!!