Happy Birthday to My Horde!

[Die Fledermaus]

It was on January 3rd of last year when I got a female hamster from the pet store. My only other hamster, Blackie, a nervous fellow, died of a respiratory infection in November of 2002; I only had him four weeks.

She was so gentle, sweet, and calm; she came from a tank with no males in it and showed no signs of pregnancy - so I took my chances. That day there was a driving freezing rain, and I walked a mile home with her safely wrapped in bath towels in my gym bag, which I held under the umbrella all the way. When I got home she had already chewed her way through the cardboard box and was exploring the towels. I was soaked but she was dry, and I named her "Rainy".

On January 9th. . . I was shocked to see a whole bunch of little pink things wriggling in her tank next to her! We had a surprise litter of twelve. I decided to keep them all, returning none.

Since then I have posted many many baby photos and more recent ones. They have been quite a handful. I'm glad I kept them, though. Their mom is still fine, and Zeb and Makeeda are parents of Stanley and Blanche.

So Happy Birthday to Makeeda, Onyx, Ebony, Zeb, Hypatia, Zenobia, Theodora, Boudicca, and Raven.

Remembered are Ringy, who died two days ago; Peter who died in March; and Larry the runt who didn't make it beyond three weeks.

[dosergirl]

That was a really nice post.
Happy Birthday to all! May the year ahead be good for all.

[tinksgliders]

Yup! Very nice post!! Give them all a hug and kiss for me... Happy birthday little furrbutts!!

[calvinator1]

Best wishes to the lot. Maybe you should offer Rainy a towel to chew on in honor of her arrival? ;D

[Die Fledermaus]

Actually, her daughter, Ebony, the one who escaped once and bit her, recently tried another escape. Previously, she pushed over her wheel and chewed a hole in the top, and then did a chinup and was out. This time she gnawed a hole in the bottom of the bin and then was chewing up a blanket underneath it! I had to cover the bottom of the bin with wood to keep her in. ;D

[diane]

I came here hoping to find a brithday-related thread from you!!! It occurred to me that it was about this time last year when your place got a bit more crowded I am sorry for the belated birthday wishes. Been a little crazy around here--lots of job stress. I love all of your crew.

It was an amazing time last year, when I first read of what you decided to do. You were definitely brave--and you have a heart bigger than this planet.

Happy Birthday to the gang

Diane

[Die Fledermaus]

Diane said:

I came here hoping to find a brithday-related thread from you!!! It occurred to me that it was about this time last year when your place got a bit more crowded I am sorry for the belated birthday wishes. Been a little crazy around here--lots of job stress. I love all of your crew.

It was an amazing time last year, when I first read of what you decided to do. You were definitely brave--and you have a heart bigger than this planet.

Happy Birthday to the gang

Diane

Hi Diane! Good to see you dropping by. Give my regards to everyone, and tell them to check in; I am also posting at another forum and Petshub.com. Thanks for the birthday wishes. I have posted numerous relatively recent photos of them elsewhere on the site. Sadly, we had a death two days before the birthday - see the Memorial forum.

BTW, I'm glad I kept them, despite the work.

There are a lot of people with big hearts around here, including you.

Amazing how much I've learned about hams and gerbs in the past year.

We changed s/n's here for a reason; glad you figured out who is whom. If interested in details send me a PM/IM.

I know, I owe you a card. Things have been busy here too, but I will get to everything. Thanks again.