Road Trip!

Here's how I ride in the car to go to the vet. I have a travel box with lots of newspaper to hide in, plus a snack for the trip. I really don't mind car trips at all.

We're going to see Dr. Johnson today to see what to do about my feeding tube since the stitches keep breaking loose. Dr. Wright tried to reinforce the area for the stitches when we went through this a month ago. Maybe I need Super Ultra Triple-duty stitches? Or maybe just way more tape to hold the tube in place? Stay tuned!

Shell Game

Check out this seam!! Since I got my resin patch removed this week, I've been getting daily treatments with Betadine on the 1-2mm gaps in my shell that are still healing. I don't mind as long as my tortoise mom "paints" it on really fast, but my patience can wear thin in a hurry, if you know what I mean. But I know it's important to keep the healing area completely sanitary for another week since it doesn't have a protective patch on it anymore.

Can you believe the size of this seam? It's a good thing Dr. Johnson knows exactly what he's doing with a scalpel, er, chainsaw, er--what does he use on a tortoise shell? I'll have to find out.

And who knew a tortoise shell could heal like this? Since I couldn't be outdoors in the sun, it's a good thing I had 12 hours of my UV light every day in my pen to maintain Vitamin D3 for shell formation. I am one lucky tortoise to have survived all this!

Happy New Year!

I just woke up, had some morning hay in my feeding tube, and now I'm celebrating being home from the animal hospital with a 99% healed shell and no resin patch. It all adds up to a very good start to the new year.

This painting seems to capture the mood this morning. The artist is Jay Schmetz and you can find more here: http://www.jayschmetzart.com Happy New Year!

Feeding tube stitches broke, again!

Since these photos were taken this afternoon, I have yet more tape, forming an X over my tube at the very front of my shell. The tube is marked with a Sharpie so it's easy to see if it isn't staying in place. So far, so good. I'm very active now so the tube is taped so my leg doesn't catch it when I dig and climb in my pen.

This was quite a surprise as I had a good visit with Dr. Johnson yesterday when he removed my resin patch and pronounced my shell healed enough to do without a replacement patch. Hip Hip Hooray! But somehow I tore out my stitches as we discovered as soon as I came home from the hospital this afternoon. Boo Hoo! I'm really bummed about needing more anesthetic and more stitches. But I haven't gained weight so I know I need my feeding tube for a while longer. Maybe all my energy has been going toward healing my shell?

Spa Day

My skin has been really dry lately, even around my eyes. I can't soak in water due to my resin patch, so I've been having my own little spa treatments instead. I really like the warm, wet washcloth so I just hunker down and enjoy it for 20-30 minutes each time. Not every tortoise gets to have spa days!

Santa filled my Christmas stocking!

This was the scene on Christmas morning. Leave it to Santa to have the most delectable hibiscus flowers on his sleigh to put in my stocking. I guess he really did know that I've been a very, very good tortoise this year!

I'm sure this was a once in a lifetime event for me as I plan to be tucked in my burrow at this time next year. But it was pretty fun to see how others live. I have to admit, I really did enjoy the Christmas tree. I'm so dainty and ladylike that I managed to not knock over too many things either. Did you know that I can turn on a dime when I see something interesting? Like a delicious hibiscus flower. Thanks, Santa!