Diet change

I got Oxbow Critical Care in my feeding tube twice a day for 7.5 months, which is around 450 feedings and involved dozens of syringes and many squirting hay incidents. Here's the recipe: 1 tsp. Oxbow CC (powdered hay, vitamins) mixed with 4 tsp. warm water which made 20 ml of hay mixture. I never even got to taste it as the feeding tube delivered it straight to my stomach. Then they flushed the tube with 10 ml of water. Sometimes it blurped out of my mouth or back out the feeding tube, so then they would give me a little less. I also started eating a little on my own these past few weeks and I even munched on globemallow outside on my walks.

Then last Saturday, Dr. Johnson decided it was time to remove my feeding tube. He took me in the back to work his magic, and I went from this:



To THIS!



So now I'm supposed to feed myself. But I'm not. I did get an antibiotic packed in the incision where my feeding tube went into my neck. My neck looks good and feels so much better to be free of the tube and stitches. But I was really tired after my visit to Dr. Johnson so I slept a lot. Then the weather changed and I always hunker down when cooler air blows in. My tortoise mom has been soaking me in my little blue pan and my tortoise dad has been taking me for walks outside, but I'm still not eating. They even played "SpongeBob Squarepants" to perk me up again. Then Dr. Johnson called to say my blood work is off and my red blood cell count needs to be checked again. Also he wants a fresh sample of poop. Now that's a tall order since I haven't been eating. Stay tuned.....

Playing in my blue pan

Here's one of my favorite games. I love my blue soaking pan, but not when there's water in it. I hate soaking! But I love to climb in everyday when it's dry so I can just play in it, then hang my front legs over the side and listen to what's going on or doze, and then play some more. When it's time to get out, that's when the real fun begins. I'm sure it's physics, but eventually I hurl my shell far enough over the side to get out. It's more fun if I flip the pan up on the way out. Extra points!

I feel pretty, oh so pretty!

Does this hibiscus flower disguise my rehab look? I'm pretty tired of stitches in my neck and stretchy cloth tape wrapped around my front leg so my scales won't catch on the tube. After 7.5 months, it looks pretty ratty and makes my leg look like a mummy.

There's also tape on my shell to hold the feeding tube in place. Except the tape won't stick to my shell anymore so they keep trying different spots on my shell. This means I could easily be a walking sticky note now. Wonder how that glue will come off the ridges of my shell? A gal always wants to look her best.

Just think, when my feeding tube comes out, my neck can heal and I won't be wearing tape anymore either. Maybe I'll get a spa day to clean my shell and spruce up my scales? I have shed a few on my other front leg for some reason. My tortoise mom found one stuck to the bottom of her sock the other day. That was some trick: spontaneous scale ejection.

Countdown to Freedom!

I get to see Dr. Johnson today and we're all hoping he'll yank out my feeding tube. Well, not "yank" exactly, but whatever it takes to set me free. Without a feeding tube, I can go back to the burrow, grazing when I want and generally being an independent tortoise gal again.

I've been practicing for this day. My tortoise mom has been taking me out for "walks" in the back yard so I'll start nibbling on globemallow, hibiscus and grass again. So far, I've only munched a few globemallow leaves and some interesting weeds in the grass. But it's May and my internal clock is saying it's time to get more active, including eating and drinking.

I've been pretty impatient and just a little huffy for a week or so as I REALLY want OUT! So I thump my shell in the tub to protest having to be confined until I've done my tortoise "business" on the papers. Then it's full speed ahead as I go for a walk outside, or at least get to "graze" on romaine leaves in my indoor set-up in the guest bathroom and the laundry room. I always have to walk around to survey the area before I settle down to eat. And boy do I eat! Sometimes I spend an hour or more just chowing down on romaine which I get besides my morning and evening feedings of Oxbow Critical Care in my feeding tube. My tortoise mom has been making it up twice a day for 7.5 months now so she's counting the hours until the tube is removed too. My tortoise dad is looking forward to getting the guest bathroom and laundry room "back," whatever that means.

Since I've been more active lately, I've been playing in my blue soaking pan every day. I don't really like it when there's water in it, but when it's empty, I climb in and play for long time. Finally I decide it's time to get out and that's when the real fun begins. I hang my front legs over the edge and try to climb out, but there's no traction for my back feet so it's like working out on a treadmill. Eventually I'm able to make it over the side by tipping the pan a bit. Then I climb out feeling very proud of myself. Tortoise Gym.



So here's what it looks like on a typical day after I've grazed on romaine leaves, dragged my favorite yellow box around which rearranges all the towels on the floor, and played in my blue soaking pan. Not even the magazines are safe from me moving them around. Ah, a tortoise's work is never done!

When good syringes go bad

This is what happens when a sticky syringe encounters a little extra pressure in the feeding tube: Hay "pesto" goes SPLAT! Seriously, there's a lot of washing up involved.

This messy little incident started the day. Then I upped the ante by pushing through the barricade during my outdoor exercises and making a break for the burrow. I thought I was home free, but they caught me just a few feet from the burrow. I can march pretty fast when I know exactly where I'm going. No stopping for snacks or sniffing globemallow, I do not pass "go", just keep making a beeline for the burrow entrance..... RATS, they caught me. But it was great fun while it lasted.

I've been staying outside for more than an hour on most warm days, but my cover is blown now and I'll get more supervision and a stronger barricade to keep me out of trouble.

Only two more weeks until I see Dr. Johnson again. If he says my feeding tube can come out after more than seven months of twice daily feedings, we'll all do a Happy Dance. And then, once my neck heals where the feeding tube is stitched in, I'll get to make a beeline for the burrow with a whole cheering section.

Oops, I did it again!

In case you've never seen how a desert tortoise "expresses" her bladder, here's a photo showing urates (calcium deposits) that have been collecting in my bladder. This is what built up to cause my Ripley's Believe-It-Or-Not-sized bladder stone. So it's very good news to see urates getting flushed out of my system. NO MORE BLADDER STONES! NO MORE SURGERY! See how I'm doing my part to prevent that from happening again? An ounce of prevention is surely worth a whole pound of bladder stone!

I am doubly efficient today because I not only expressed my bladder but I did it so neatly in my favorite blue pan!! I just never knew it could be this fun!

World's first potty trained tortoise?

I "used" my blue litter pan today. It's true. While my tortoise mom was busy today, I entertained myself in the exercise set-up in the guest bathroom. I rearranged the towels on the floor, the magazine basket, my yellow box and of course my blue soaking pan. You know how I love to play in my pan, but I outdid myself today. What a funny surprise when my tortoise mom discovered I had pooped in the pan so she didn't have to clean up. Wow. Stop the presses!!!! Put me on Letterman!! Who knew I was this savvy in a personal hygiene sort of way?

Three-alarm clog!

My feeding tube clogged up so much this morning that we made a rush visit to see Dr. Johnson. Thank goodness he flushed the tube right away, plus he gave my Tortoise Mom some new syringes to make sure it doesn't happen like that again.

I had a good exam and all good news. Dr. Johnson examined the torn and "mobile" scales on my left front foot and said they are ok, probably just happened since I started walking around outside a little again. He also moved the tape on my feeding tube so it doesn't pull so hard on my stitches when I stick my neck way out. After all, I have flowers to sniff and places to go now on my daily walks!



I'm still not gaining weight or getting stronger but Dr. Johnson said that will happen when I can spend the summer outdoors. I plan to bulk up, for sure. But I don't think I'll ever catch Tortellini. She's one hefty gal!

The best news is I MIGHT get my feeding tube removed at my next appointment in May. If so, I'll be free to be a 100 percent, full-time OUTDOOR tortoise again! Woo Hoo! I really, really want to crawl in my burrow and just come and go as I please. Don't get me wrong, I'm really grateful for a second chance at life. And I really appreciate all the tube feeding and poop cleaning and special care to help me recover since surgery last September. But it's been a long haul, and let's just say, you can't take the urge to hibernate and the love of the backyard out of a tortoise "of a certain age". How I love to sniff the ground and listen to the birds, graze (like a very short cow) and be a regular, outdoor desert tortoise. So it's good news: If I keep doing well, we only have another month of all this indoor care and tube feeding business.

Now where's a calendar so I can scratch off the days?

Hippity Hoppity, Happy EASTER!

Uh-Oh

Not me!

Potty Training

I love to play in my blue soaking pan. Please don't tell me it's a cat litter box, no way! It's my personal blue lagoon where I get soaked twice a week to battle ongoing dehydration, and play in it when it's dry the rest of the time. It's just fun to climb in and then flip it up and flop out the side so my shell makes a loud "thunk". It's one of my favorite toys, besides my yellow box that I like to hook on my shell and then drag around. It turns me into a larger tortoise, like getting a "shell job."

Today I surprised my tortoise mom when she found me in my blue soaking pan. I was feeling quite pleased with myself because I did my business in a ladylike way right in the pan, and it was totally my idea. Mmmm, I love my little blue pan. And my little yellow box. Perfect toys for me!

Go for a Walk?

Big news: I got to go outside today. First time since September. Dr. Johnson said I could start going outside for a little while on warm days. Well, I was just playing with my favorite yellow box when all of a sudden I got scooped up in my soaking pan by my tortoise mom. The next thing I knew she put me down on GRASS!!! I was so surprised! I put my nose on the grass and then looked up in utter amazement. I almost forgot what it's like to sit in the grass and just be OUTSIDE.

But I sure didn't forget where my burrow is. In less than 20 minutes, I marched over to it three times. My tortoise mom kept carrying me back to the opposite side of the yard, but my internal GPS pointed me back to the burrow each time. I would love to crawl in beside Tortellini and say, Hey, scoot over, you're hogging my side of the burrow.

Well that's not going to happen for a few more months. First I have to put on more muscle and weight so I won't need this feeding tube anymore. I sniffed the globemallow today but I didn't take a bite. I sniffed the grass too. But you know, my body has an internal calendar so it knows that I should be hibernating and not eating yet, and it might take a lot more sniffing over the next few weeks before I start getting signals to eat outside again. But if I keep marching across the yard like I did three times today, I might work up a good appetite anyway.

Hint, hint....

We gals always like pretty flowers. I have hibernated during Valentine's Day for more than four decades so didn't know there were so many pretty ones growing in the dead of winter. And they come in such handy snack-sized bunches!

This is my ladylike way of hinting at what I'd like to find in my tub for such a special occasion. You can keep your chocolate and wine. And don't even get me started on candles.

Who needs a groundhog?

My tortoise mom just realized I'm more accurate at predicting Spring than any groundhog or even the Arizona version, Agua Fria Freddie (rattlesnake). Here's what I did on February 2: I woke up and started eating again! And I'm eating more all the time. I even insist on a bedtime snack. Yes, I wheel around and beg at the side of my tub, using my most expressive tortoise body language. I can't whimper or meow but I do get my point across anyway.

Since I blogged last (sorry about that), I've been so busy fighting off winter doldrums. At first it was hard to stay alert instead of giving in to the urge to hibernate, but now I'm more active every day. In fact, I've gotten a lot more adventurous and acrobatic so there have been some, ahem, escapes. But they always catch me really fast. I think I need some chamoflage for the light tan carpet. I must stick out like, well, a tortoise even though I freeze and pretend I'm not there in hopes no one will notice me. I'm determined to get into my tortoise dad's office because it has lots of good hiding places. I saw it once, so now I know it's like Tortoise Disneyland.

Now that I've perked up, I'm also gaining weight and my scales look better. I was feeling so poorly for a while there that the scales fell off around my eyes and my skin was flaking off. Dare I say, the skin on my neck was so bad that I now understand why they invented turtlenecks, to hide winter skin.

Dr. Johnson was delighted last time he saw me a month ago, and my blood work showed improvements in white cell, calcium and hydration levels. Plus I gained 100 grams, a very good sign. I'm going to see him again tomorrow so I hope I can make him smile again with my perky attitude, more weight and some new scales on my skin. Tortoises are not supposed to molt! You know, they can block all natural light from my view, but my body knows it's time for hibernation anyway. You can put lots of special lights and heat on timers, but you really can't totally fool Mother Nature, or a tortoise in the prime of life.

I've been indoors for 5 months now. I wonder how many more? But I'll have to get a lot better before I can totally feed myself again. I munch on romaine lettuce but I'm not interested in other foods yet. Dr. Johnson says even though I'm eating again, my appetite isn't "voracious" yet. Yeah, that sounds right. So I'm grateful for my tube feedings twice a day. I am so patient while they feed me. But the minute they're done, it's back to doing all my tortoise business in my tub. I'm a busy gal now!

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.

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!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

As you can see, I outdid myself on decorating my pen. Oh, I've got the spirit of Christmas all right. I'm feeling much better with all the extra artificial light and heat, so I nibbled on some romaine lettuce this morning, and I even came out looking for a snack at bedtime. Got to keep my strength up for The Night Before Christmas!

It's a good thing I'm staying awake all winter as I have a very important job to do tonight. There's even a song about it! Well, I am only too glad to help Santa on this magical night. Even a simple tortoise with a feeding tube can be a helper!

Oh, come all ye faithful...

Winter Solstice Blues

It's that time of year and we're having trouble fooling my internal clock. I stopped eating my leafy greens three days ago and I've been agitated and looking for a place to burrow. So my tortoise mom called Dr. Johnson this morning to discuss what's going on with me since I don't seem to be in physical distress otherwise. That's a polite way of saying that the hay and water from my feeding tube are coming through just fine. Plus I'm alert and breathing fine. But I am showing an exaggerated startle response which is a clue that my body is slowing down.

Dr. Johnson said to block all outdoor light near me as it could be triggering my brain to brumate (the reptile version of hibernation). So maybe all those recent romps around the Christmas tree and peeking through the patio door weren't such a good idea after all? Maybe they gave me exercise but also reminded my body that it's really not summer.

So they've blocked out the window in the bathroom and added more bright artificial light to my UV light during the day in hopes my body will reset to its summer metabolism instead of responding to this big winter solstice signal. Did you know that while mammals hibernate through a complicated process of regulating body temperature, reptiles simply slow down all metabolic activity? That's why we don't need much oxygen in the burrow all winter.

Ooooh, I'm having a tough day. It's like tortoise detox as I shred newspaper while trying to get out of my tub, because I really just want to snuggle in my backyard burrow. I haven't figured out that it's not going to happen, and I'm pretty determined, so I guess we just have to wait until this extra artificial light and heat go to work on my nervous system. I do calm down when my tortoise mom or dad pat me and talk to me. So I'm sure they'll help me through this metabolism revving up process. But no peeking out windows for me anymore until it really is June!

The stockings were hung...

I'm ready for Santa. I hear he knows when I am sleeping and he knows when I'm awake, so I'm being good for goodness sake!

On the inside looking out

Hey, I remember that patio! But I was always outside trying to get in. Now I wish I could go outside, walk wherever I want and eat whatever I find in the yard again. I'm pretty tired of being indoors so they let me explore a little more so I won't get bored.

My tortoise mom made a little obstacle course in my exercise area of the kitchen. I'm not impressed as it's more like a speed bump, but I'll do whatever it takes to rebuild my muscles!

Anatomy lesson

The diamond-shaped plates on my shell between the two pieces of tape on my feeding tube shows approximately where my stomach is, or at least how far the feeding tube goes past my esophagus and into my stomach. That way I can't choke when they feed me and I still get to enjoy eating my green leafies myself. I haven't been wild about hibiscus flowers yet, but I'm sure my jaw muscles will get strong enough to enjoy them again too. Meanwhile, I like my lettuce straight up--fresh, cold and crispy!

Back in business

I'm starting to look like a mummy with even more bandages, but I got a new feeding tube installed yesterday so I'm good to go until I can gain some more weight and muscle.

Dr. Wright hoped to just restitch my old feeding tube where it came loose in my neck but I would have none of that. So since I needed anesthetic anyway, he replaced the whole shebang. I came home extra sleepy yesterday afternoon, and the world was still a slow and blurry place most of this morning, but some Christmas music, extra warmth and play time in the kitchen snapped me out of dreamland.

Besides the new feeding tube, Dr. Wright put extra tape where the tube is anchored in my neck with stitches. It's like a turtleneck for the tube. It's bulkier but more secure which is important since I'm pretty active now. Also we now have a small catheter which can be used as a "plumber's helper" to make sure the feeding tube doesn't clog up. My tortoise mom is threatening to fire up the coffee grinder to beat the Oxbow Critical Care hay bits into submission so they won't clog up the syringe or my feeding tube anymore. I say, Go for it! Whatever works.

Did you know the "plates" on the top of my shell actually mark my spine? The second vertebral plate marks how far my feeding tube goes into my stomach, which is about 1/3 of the way down my shell. You can see it in the space between bandages that hold the feeding tube flat on the top of my shell.

I need to do a lot more lettuce crunching to build up the muscles in my head. My tortoise mom has plans for some toys and platforms to keep me stimulated and active during my kitchen/gym workouts. I did drag around my favorite yellow box today.

Do I hear the theme from "Rocky" as I step up my rehab training? Only three more weeks until my patch change and I'm really hoping to be bulked up by then.

Blew a gasket?

We have to find out if my feeding tube is out of position so we're checking with my favorite vets at Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital. My next appointment is set for 12/19 but it looks like my tube is coming out as there's space between my skin and the stitches that hold it in.

I've been a lot more active so we had to add extra sticky band-aids to keep the tube from moving around. Also it has been clogging up lately. And then there was that nasty syringe problem, so there are several reasons why my feeding tube isn't sitting snug in my neck. But it's also been more than eight weeks since it was installed during my surgery.

As you can see from my green beak, I've been enjoying feeding myself more lately. I'm awake, alert and ready to chow down as soon as my tortoise mom shows up every morning.

I guess we'll find out soon enough if the feeding tube needs to be fixed, removed or just left alone for a few more weeks. Good thing I don't have to figure this stuff out as I know I'm in good hands. (yawn) And now it's time for a little nap in my favorite yellow box. Even with a green beak and orange feeding tube, a gal needs her beauty sleep!

Yesterday was a "bad hay day"

I don't know what happened, but suddenly hay mixture was squirting all over my shell and the wall and then the washing machine was running because hay squirted on the bath curtain too so it had to be washed. Who knew hay mush could squirt so far?

My tortoise dad brought home a new syringe last night and used extra water to flush out my feeding tube so things went better today. When you're getting powdered hay and vitamins from a syringe in a feeding tube, sometimes "Clogs Happen!"

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's my usual hangout. See why I'm extra thankful this year? I've got luxury digs indoors with all the amenities. Plus I'm about a pound lighter without that giant bladder stone I'd been hauling around. And now I have my own radio as music perks me up so I eat better. So far I've been listening to Christmas songs but that might get old pretty soon. I'm not thrilled when dogs or chipmunks sing, but I am happier now that I know the dog barking next door can't get near me. Anyway with the extra heating light and music, I'm really chowing down now. This is good because I have to build up weak muscles in my head and jaw from when I was too weak too eat.

So I'm working on being an eating machine. Hey, a gal needs to have goals! I only eat the greenest part of romaine leaves and leave the ribs. I know what I like! They keep offering me hibiscus flowers but they're a little harder for me to bite right now. I know I need more variety in my diet but I'm working on it.

I've never been awake for the holidays before. This is a lot different than being tucked away in my burrow for the winter, and I have always liked coming indoors. Years ago, at another house, I figured out how to open the sliding patio door with my toenails so I could enjoy the cool tile floor in the kitchen. This surprised my tortoise mom every time I did it. I guess no one expects a tortoise to do this, but you might be amazed at what we can do. Did you know we can walk 7 miles in a day? Not so pokey afterall. And my yard buddy, Tortellini, thinks she's an acrobat. She's pretty good at hanging by her front toenails wherever there's a place she can climb and wedge herself. She's the tortoise equivalent of a mountaineer, but without the technical gear or ego. She's hibernating now and doesn't know what she's missing.

This is Tortellini checking out a temporary barricade last summer. They put it up so we couldn't "help" the a/c repairmen. See what I mean about her climbing ability?

BTW did you know we hibernate according to the amount of daylight, not temperature? That's why we tuck in our burrows even when it's still hot outside. But our body clocks say "it's time" so our metabolism slows way down and in we go. The temperature is pretty constant in the burrow so we can conserve energy while we're hibernating. Dirt is great insulation, one of Nature's amenities.

Urates R Us!

I've had quite a week. The temperature dropped and I thought about hibernating so they cranked up the infrared light for overnight heat. Suddenly it's June 21 again.

Then I got a new batch of Oxbow Critical Care, which is really powdered hay and vitamins mixed up for my feeding tube. But this batch just isn't the same and I haven't been as sweet or interested in anything, including my favorite lettuce and cartoons. So they're making a switch tonight. Yay!

But the big thing I did was "express my bladder" on Wednesday. It's something I should have been doing to flush out the urates so I wouldn't have a bladder stone. But six weeks after the surgery, let's just say I outdid myself. My tortoise mom e-mailed a photo of the urates in question to Dr. Johnson to ask if this was normal or of any concern. He assured her that I was just doing my tortoise business in thorough fashion. You'll notice that there's no photo and I think the towel I "expressed myself" on is still out in the back yard. Evidently no one knew I could be so expressive as it caused quite a stir. But I plan to do more of that so I won't ever need surgery for a bladder stone again!

Thanks, Tortoise Dad!

I really enjoy dining, in ladylike fashion, on romaine with a hibiscus flower for either appetizer or dessert--sometimes both! Let's see, does a flower on the right side of the shell mean I'm available?

When I get to go back outside next summer, I'll find three new hibiscus plants covered with red flowers. Plus we're getting a replacement Desert Willow tree because I love all the sweet pink flowers it drops all summer. Thanks, Tortoise Dad, for giving me such a nice yard to live in. I can hardly wait to see it. But I've got a lot of healing to do indoors until then.

C-Span

This is what I do when they talk about health reform on C-Span. I say: Get 'er done! And, Where's SpongeBob? He is far more entertaining for me. Maybe we should tortois-ize the remote so I'll perk up and be more active.

I'm in good hands with Dr. Johnson!

I spent the day at Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital last week, and boy, it really pooped me out. Dr. Johnson decided to wait on replacing my surgical patch until December. But I got a thorough check-up. My weight is holding steady but I need to gain more. I've been eating a lot on my own but I'll get a larger dose of Oxbow Critical Care in my feeding tube now, plus less water. We do know my bladder is working well again!

Dr. Johnson wants me to exercise more so I guess I'll be exploring the kitchen more now. I do like the new brooder light that warms up the towels and rugs for my "laps."

I don't mind riding in the car and I even eat romaine leaves in my travel box. Too bad there are no hay salad drive-throughs!

All ears

If you look really close, you can see a smooth circle on the side of my head. That's the membrane that recognizes sound vibrations so I can hear. Oh, how I am fearfully and wonderfully made!

SpongeBob and Sponge Baths

I listen to the tv to wake up in the morning before doing my laps in the kitchen. I especially like SpongeBob Squarepants. That cheerful little guy sure gets my attention. Also, I always cock my head and perk up when I hear my tortoise mom's voice. It doesn't look like I have ears as they are so cleverly disguised, but I sure can hear!

I've been eating a lot on my own lately so we'll see what the vet says about that feeding tube today. I'm going in for a surgical patch change. I get lots of sponge baths to keep my shell clean and dry while it's healing, but today the vet will soak it to melt the resin patch so I can get new surgical dressings. My hind legs are a lot stronger now so I won't have to ask about getting a "lift kit" after all. Stay tuned. It's going to be a long day, but I know I'm in good hands!!