All My Children

[Edwards_Mommy]

Hello everyone!

My name is Katie, and I'd like to introduce you all to my kids.

Jack is the oldest of my brood; she (yes, she) is a 9 year old calico cat with a sweet disposition and a tendency to try to groom my hair (it's almost 3 feet long, certainly a no-no!). Her favorite thing to do is hang out in my computer chair, waiting for me to come sit down (since I work and go to school online, she knows I'm gonna be back eventually).

Shelby is next in line for seniority; he is a 5 year old black and white short-hair cat with an attitude, but underneath it all he's a total softie. He loves to lay in your lap and purr, and if he really likes you, he'll lick you while you pet him.

Both of my kitties like to sleep on me at night, and though I'm rather allergic (mostly just a stuffy head) I don't have the heart to stop them. And I can't lie, I like the comfort of a happy furry body next to mine. (my husband doesn't count...lol).

Then we have Edward, my handsome little male bun, who is aprox. 6 months old if the pet store we got him from is to be believed. I plan on getting him to the vet soon for a check-up and any required vaccinations. Edward LOVES to hop all about in the couch while my son and I are in the living room during the day. Whenever I am in the kitchen I put up a baby-gate and let him romp around my feet while I'm doing dishes or fixing something to eat.

And last we have Charley, who is a 1 year old African Pygmy Hedgehog. He is the latest addition to our four-legged family, and though my husband is the one who has wanted a hedgie for years on end, it seems the little booger has gone and bonded with me. He'll let my husband handle him, but he huffs and puffs and impersonates a sea urchin, me, he runs all over and tries to hide in the crook of my elbow.

I also have a 3 year old (human) son named Adreyan, who I truly don't know what I would do without. He's a bright little ray of sunshine in my life; smart, funny, and very affectionate. He's a little... energetic (read energizer bunny) and overly enthusiastic sometimes, but then again so am I.

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As for me, well, I'm honest, sometimes uncomfortably so. I don't beleive in sugar-coating life because it doesn't benefit anyone; the truth will set you free, and thoughtful, constructive criticism and advice will help you make your dreams come true.

I'm a hopeless romantic, and love anything with four legs or less, especially if it's cute, furry, or scaly (I heart snakes).

I tell people I'm crazy, but in a good way.

Pictures will be forthcomming!

~Katie

 

[hartleybun]

nice start to your blog..hedgies arent that common as pets here - the gardens where i live all have them, tho not the cute pygmy ones

 

[Edwards_Mommy]

I've seen the ones common to Europe and the UK...I think they're cute too, but I heart African Pygmy hedgies...I saw Charley and it was love at first sight. ^_^ I'l have to go through my pics or take some new ones to show everyone at their best. If you see any low-res pictures, my son took them with his toddler-safe digital camera.

 

[Edwards_Mommy]

Here are the pictures! ^_^

Jack:

Shelby:

Edward:

Charley:

and Adreyan:

Each one of my kids (furry and non) has their own unique personality and special place in my heart. I wouldn't change any of them for the world!

~Katie

 

[Edwards_Mommy]

Omg omg omg...

Charley is quilling! Poor little guy. He's all snuggly and cuddly, just wanting someone to hold him and make him feel better. I gave him a nice oil bath and some mealworms as a treat for being such a good boy.

There are new quills poking up everywhere on his back, neck, and bottom end, and it seems like every time I pet him or shift the blanket he's hiding under I see dropped quills. There are no bald spots, so it makes me wonder where the missing ones are coming from...

I'm suspecting that either he's one of the random hedgies that goes through a one year quilling, or the pet store really didn't have a clue about his age and who knows how old he could be. He's sexually mature, but that's really the only indicator of age I can visually verify, being new to hedgies...

I'm running in circles worrying over him (he's snoozing in his cage under a blankie atm) I just want to make this easier for him, I can only imagine how uncomfy it must be!

 

[Wabbitdad12]

Great start to your blog. You have a cute furry and non furry family too.

Did you get Edward from a local german pet shop?

I hope everything goes well with Charley.

 

[Edwards_Mommy]

Yes I did get Edward from a local pet shop. From what I've been able to tell he's a Rhinelander breed; has all the calico markings and everything...I think they're gorgeous, though I may be partial to calico anything.... ^_^

I think Charley will be ok in the end, he's been a happy healthy little hog otherwise. I'll need to get some oatmeal for his baths to help with the typical dry skin hedgies are prone to. I'm just nervous because I'm a new hedgie mom and want to make sure he's as happy and comfy as he can be.

 

[Wabbitdad12]

Edwards_Mommy wrote:

Yes I did get Edward from a local pet shop. From what I've been able to tell he's a Rhinelander breed; has all the calico markings and everything...I think they're gorgeous, though I may be partial to calico anything.... ^_^

Cool, did you have to get a translator or do you speak bunny german?

Glad to hear about Charley, I know when I was very new to rabbits I was worried about anything out of the ordinary.

 

[Edwards_Mommy]

I think the language of love might just be universal. ^_^ Edward is such a sweet little guy; he's a snuggler, even sticking close when he's out of his hutch (we have one of the outdoor style hutches in our living room for him, hubby wanted to buy him a quality cage) in the kitchen and elsewhere. He likes to circle my feet if I'm up and about, or hop back and forth across my lap or behind my head while we're on the couch watching TV or I'm reading a book.

The cutest thing though is when he grabs my glasses by the bridge and pulls them off my face so he can give me bunny kisses. He won't do it with them on; I think he doesn't think he can reach my face if I have them on, because he'll lick on my hands/arms regardless. He's just a little bundle of love...^_^

Just about the only thing I'm sure of are my kitties...everything else in my life has changed in the past 5 years, the cats have been the only constant.

 

[Wabbitdad12]

Edwards_Mommy wrote:

I think the language of love might just be universal. ^_^ Edward is such a sweet little guy; he's a snuggler, even sticking close when he's out of his hutch (we have one of the outdoor style hutches in our living room for him, hubby wanted to buy him a quality cage) in the kitchen and elsewhere. He likes to circle my feet if I'm up and about, or hop back and forth across my lap or behind my head while we're on the couch watching TV or I'm reading a book.

The cutest thing though is when he grabs my glasses by the bridge and pulls them off my face so he can give me bunny kisses. He won't do it with them on; I think he doesn't think he can reach my face if I have them on, because he'll lick on my hands/arms regardless. He's just a little bundle of love...^_^

Just about the only thing I'm sure of are my kitties...everything else in my life has changed in the past 5 years, the cats have been the only constant.

Thats cute.

Being a spouse of a military member is like that, my wife knows what you mean about change. I retired a few years back from the Air Force, the animals were the only constant for her too. Didn't have rabbits then, just the mutts and a couple of cats.

I salute your husband for his service and you too for the sacrifices you make.:USAflagwaving:

Edward certainly sounds like a bunny that is well loved and has a bunch to share.

 

[Edwards_Mommy]

My hubby is currently going through some pain therapy in hopes that he can go on his company's next deployment; he was injured in basic training and strongly discouraged from getting into combat situations because of the issue. Two surgeries and three years later and he's doing alot better. I don't want him to go, but I can understand why he'd want to watch the backs of these guys who have his every day on duty (he's a police officer).

Add in my life-long battle with depression (13 years, give or take out of 23) and ADD, and my animals are my saving grace. I think one of the only things my parents ever did for me was let me have a cat when I was in school; my first cat was my best friend and confidante, he passed away in 2004, and I miss him every day.

*sniffle*

Talking about him always gets me weepy; we had to have him put to sleep because his kidneys were failing and he was in constant pain. He was purring when he closed his eyes for the last time...I want to think he was thankful to be in my arms and not be hurting any more.

I've had all kinds of animals over the years; snakes, sugar gliders, exotic fish...I guess I've just got alot of love to give to the 4 legs or less crowd (huge fear of spiders and most buggies).

I'm gonna quit babbling now...

 

[hartleybun]

what a lovely family - fur, quill and non-fur

i still cant get my head round the fact that a hedgehog can be a pet:biggrin2:

 

[Wabbitdad12]

Snakes, reptiles ewww! Just not for me.

 

[Edwards_Mommy]

Snakes are seriously cool though, esp the smaller species. I had a Kenyan Sand Boa who was about the size of a primary pencil, and he was the most docile little thing.

And my dad said the same thing about having a hedgie as a pet; he just didn't see how one could be someone's pet. Charley is one of the sweetest and most snuggly animals I've ever had (maybe because he's quilling and needs some extra love?) and as long as he trusts me, I don't have anything to worry about when it comes to the quills all over his back. Hedgies actually have very soft fur on their bellies if you can get them to open up to you! ^_^

 

[Edwards_Mommy]

Special Story Entry:

Jack


Jack came into my life in the later part of 2000, and has been one of my best friends ever since. I was one of those kids that would rather stay inside and read or play a game rather than go outside and play sports, so my animals were always around me.

Jack is named after Jack Skellington in Tin Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. One of my friends named her, and the name just stuck. She doesn't seem to mind and is very much aware that she is in fact, a girl. She's actually very maternal, and sometimes I'm sad that she couldn't know the joy of true motherhood; she has been a wonderful surrogate mom to many of my critters though.

I'm not exactly sure what breed of cat Jack is. She came to me from a friend of my mother whose cat had given birth to unexpected kittens. All I know is she is a gorgeous calico with a very mellow temperament.

Jack has recently celebrated her 9th year of life, and is aging very well. Never prone to hairballs or other internal complications, she does occasionally eat too fast and leave me a nice mushy surprise on the way into the kitchen in the morning hours.

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I'm one of those people who think that animals are people too. Each of my animals is a person in my mind; they each have their own likes, dislikes, thoughts, and feelings. Somehow, unlike quite alot of people, they manage to put these aside at times and bring us comfort in our darkest hours. They also come to us in times of great joy and share their love and devotion with no reserve. You've never known true love until you've had an animal place it's life happily in your hands.

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Next: Shelby's Story

 

[Edwards_Mommy]

Shelby's Story

Shelby is an affectionate neutered male short-hair breed with an attitude. Think surly teenager and you've pretty much got him pegged. He'll act aloof and run around doing naughty things like scratching on the couch/walls/etc and tinkling on my husband's uniforms...but when it comes to me, he's a doll. I can call his name from another room or on the other end of the house, and he'll come running to wherever I'm at looking for a little lovin'.

Shelby is officially my husband's cat, and is named after the auto designer carol Shelby (my hubby is a big Ford Mustang fan). Shelby is approximately 5 years old and came to live with us from the same family Jack came from, so it's likely that the two are related in some way.

Shelby has fathered one litter with my father's cat Trinity, and they had 5 kittens. Named were Morgan (whom I adopted for aprox. 18mos and reluctantly rehomed once I discovered I was pregnant) and Snuggles (who lives with my little brother). There were three kittens who looked just like Shelby who found homes through one of my husband's supervisors at the time. He was later neutered when he began spraying everything in our apartment including the clean laundry! He's gotten a little chunky, but gets lots of exercise and has a good diet to keep him healthy.

Shelby is affectionately known as the cat of my relationship with my husband because we have had him since we have been together almost (the past 5 years) minus a month or so. One of his most endearing markings is a little black spot on his chin that looks like a goatee.

This little bugger has a habit of laying all over the clean clothes and covering them in a thick layer of cat hair before anyone even gets a chance to wear them. He can most often be found in a window catching some rays or hiding under the bed in the master bedroom, stealing some alone time away from my very active three year old son.

 

[Wabbitdad12]

Edwards_Mommy wrote:

Shelby's Story

...and tinkling on my husband's uniforms...

I would have been so mad at the cat. We had a cat, she passed on, that would see me in my blues and jump half way up my leg and try to climb up me. Snagging the blue nylon pants in the process. She gave up once we had her declawed. She didn't meow, she squeeked.

 

[Edwards_Mommy]

I don't think a week goes by that my hubby doesn't halfheartedly threaten to toss the cat outside and let him fend for himself. Luckily Borax gets the smell out, and some oxyclean helps with the stains.

Jack and her sisters (one is passed, one still lives with my mother) can't meow...they squeak. Any idea what causes that?

Tomorrow I will be posting Edward and Charley's stories, stay tuned! ^_^

 

[hartleybun]

brandy and whiskey chocolate labrador, whilst not being cat lovers, do applaude shelby's efforts in covering the house in fur. this is something they do themselves on a regular basis. they recommend sneezing over any sewing for extra effect. a good shake from nose to tail would also suffice

 

[Wabbitdad12]

I've never heard why some cats meow and some squeak. Her name was squeakers, original eh.