Blogger

Some people have asked how I write this blog. Well I'm no touch typist but I know my way around a keyboard. Then I mostly just write what's on my mind. If I'm not feeling well, not a lot posting takes place, as you might have noticed by now. But I'm feeling a lot better lately.

Until I tried it, I didn't know I could write a blog. It just shows that you'll never know unless you try. I'm going to try painting next. If an elephant can do it, why can't I? I'm living proof that you can teach a tortoise (of a "certain age") new tricks!

Vroom, vroom

I've been slowing down. I'm still not eating on my own, but I do sniff the globemallow and think about it at least. I haven't been pooping very much either so I'm getting twice daily "walks" in the bathroom and laundry area to try to rev up my metabolism. All natural light is blocked there to help trick my body into not hibernating this winter. It's hard to break a 44 year habit, so we're pulling out all the stops to keep me properly stimulated.

I do like to explore for a while and then I sit at the barricade and hope I can slip through unnoticed. So far it has only happened once. I made it all the way into my tortoise dad's office but I got caught before I could tuck in and hide somewhere in the dark cool room. D'oh! But I'm determined to keep on trying. Don't ever underestimate the memory and determination of a tortoise. Now I know where I'm going so I'll be even faster if I can move the barricade again. I've got four legs and lots of traction so I can move more than you'd think.

Sometimes during my exercise period, I get to soak in warm water to keep me hydrated. I don't like to soak for very long but it's pretty relaxing to hang out in my very own personal spa. And then I bask under the lights to stay very warm which boosts my immune system too. Sometimes I sleep right under the infrared light at night, with my legs stretched out behind me.

It's hard to teach a tortoise new tricks but we're pulling out all the stops to rev me up to bypass hibernation so I can keep recovering from the surgery and so much muscle and weight loss. I am heavier each time they weigh me even though I'm not eating on my own. Maybe it's because I'm not peeing and pooping like usual? Ahem, only ladylike comments please.

Ok, my tortoise mom says to stop blogging and get back to walking. She thinks walking is the answer to everything. Here I go: vroom, vroom!

TLC

I've been getting lots of TLC since my visit to the vet. It's been a tough go but I'm perking up again after many rough days. Amazingly I'm gaining weight despite taking only a few bites of food since well before Christmas. But I'm still getting tube feedings (got new stitches again too), and now I get "soaked" as my blood tests showed dehydration. Dr. Johnson was concerned about my white count too so I'm on antibiotics again, just in case. So maybe my weight has come back because I'm more hydrated now?

I haven't been able to get my shell wet all these months because the resin patch would dissolve. But now that the patch is off, I am free to soak as needed. I have my very own roasting pan from the 99 cent store too.

Hey, no jokes about tortoise soup -- shudder. At first I didn't like soaking at all, maybe because I didn't feel well. But I finally decided to enjoy the whole experience. Ok, here's something new: did you know that I can "drink" from both ends? It's true. One of the amazing thing about tortoises is we can also take in water from the cloaka, which is the all-purpose opening under the tail. The water has a more direct route to the kidneys that way, isn't that cool? What a great way to design desert animals who don't get to drink regularly in the wild.

Dr. Johnson also said to not use any type of ointment on my skin or eyes (not even the opthalmic stuff) as it will make my scales fall off. Since scales provide protection, that's not a good thing. But I'm really glad to not be so dehydrated anymore. Maybe the scales will grow back around my eyes again soon? I wonder what made them disappear in the first place? I only had ointment on one eye and only one time so that's not the reason. Also Dr. Johnson was concerned because I started sleeping under the infrared light at night. Getting extra heat is how we tortoises rev up our immune systems, so that was a sign of physical distress too. But now I'm feeling a lot better. I think it's time to crawl in my little box, get some shut-eye and dream of grazing in the back yard...... Zzzzzzz.