pics at bottom
Ok so we drive across the country and the babies do a fabulous job. they crawl around and we count them every morning and night to be sure they are doing ok. We stop at grocery stores to be sure that they get snacks and broccoli and whatever. Once we get home they are doing great. Growing like weeds. There are names floating around for each of them and they are all different colors except the two white ones. I was taking them out to get their picture taken. and i had two in a ball (that they run around the house in) and i wedged the ball between the cage and the edge of the dresser. well they pushed it when i turned around and two fell. It was Carlisle and Jasper (the two males). I of course flipped out and picked up the ball. it was about a 3-4 foot drop. They were both in there and shaken up and i had them crawl out on my hand. i watched both of them for a little bit and realized that Jasper was hurt. I made sure Carlisle was ok and put him back in his cage in the other room. Then i waited with jasper for a little while to see what was wrong and if he was going to be ok. I saw that his back right leg was broken and i got really upset and called mom (duh because thats who you call when someone gets hurt). Mom made me calm down and asked me what i was going to do. I didnt care that George would think it was stupid, but i was going to take him to a vet! I didn't want him to like be in pain or something!!! So i called the vet that we had scheduled an appt at for Wednesday to get the babies sexed. Well they just gave me another number for a little place where a lady would help me right away. And i called them and made the appt for 4 o clock that day (one hour from when i called). I called George to ask him where he was, since he was down at the MINI dealership getting my car looked at. He was angry that i was about to spend money on a pet that i paid 12 bucks for at the store, but i retorted with an angry tear filled outburst saying that these dumb hamsters are all i have to take care of anymore and that if they are hurt or die or anything while he is gone on deployment i'm going to feel doomed that i cant even take care of myself. (i was a little emotional lol). He stopped naging me at least. I decided that i could ask the Dr to at least check the sex for me for the other babies since i was already going and it would save me a trip. George came home and we left and got there right on time. The lady was very nice and gave me tissues because his poor foot seemed to be broken in two places and i didn't have many good options to choose from.
one was to send him to hamster heaven. Two was to try to put a splint on his leg and a cone on his head. But that option would be very difficult beause they are so tiny still (3 weeks old that day) and they would probably squirm out of it within 10 minutes of a 3 hour effort to get it on. Three was to amputate the foot and hope that he got on well without it. And four was to just let him walk it off so to say. I chose four. She explained that since he was crawling around the tin (he got weighed in a can) and wasn't letting his handycap affect him and make him just pout and feel bad for himself, that he would probably be ok to just be a gimp hamster. We did have to get him a little travel cage with no second level, and a little dish for his food. He needs to be kept in a small container so he doesnt crawl too much. And if the leg starts to turn a funny color or if he chews on it then he's got to go back in to get it taken off. Jasper seems to be doing well. He kinda likes his little home and he crawls out and around and sleeps a lot. He isnt hostile or anything and i pick him up and hold him. He is putting a little more weight on it but sometimes still falls over. Its sad to see but encouraging because he just picks himself up and keeps going.
Anyways. I'll go try to get picks of everyone now. The official names are, Gabriel (who had a growth spurt and we realized was a VERY young mom). Alice, Rosalie, Emma. and the boys are Carlisle, and Jasper.
Alice: Shes the runt by far. grumpy after you wake her up but once shes awake shes happy as a clam. (all white with light red eyes)
Rosalie: Can be fiesty! Loves to snuggle and play peek-a-boo in your hands (white belly, light tan color and light grey stripe and red eyes)
Emma: formally Emmett, she's Georges and he refuses to call her a girl. she was the biggest for the first two weeks and George picked her for sheer size. lol (White belly, with tan and gray hairs blended all over, not spots, a dark stripe and black eyes)
Carlisle: by far the most calm. He likes running from one hand to the next and is a little shy but never ever nips at you. (white belly, light gray coat and some tan with dark stripe, black eyes)
Jasper: the gimp. quite the little motivator. LOVES to sleep. hes doing great dispite his setback. Out grew Emma last week (all white, red eyes)
