Hi, folks!
 
I'm  sorry that we have had to lurk for so long, but life's been demanding and
exhausting.  I will try to finish the behavior and nursing FAQs in the next few
months but can't manage more.  Thank you so much, Bruce, for doing the health
section (and for teaching us so much; we love your posts and always feel they
make us better ferret parents), and dear friend, Nancy who is handling some of
the sections I just have no time for.  I've been very positively impressed, as
well, by Judy's grasp of ferret personalities and modifying training techniques
to suit the individual, including her grasp of training without any negative
responses.
 
I just had my second operation in ten weeks (neither major, thank goodness), not
too pleasant for somebody who went into the year not expecting any(or any
post-op infections, either, but what the heck), but a 6 week
antibiotic-resistant sinus infection and a pecan sized breast tumor (benign --
we just found out a few days ago, despite it not looking right to the oncologist
as it came out -- we DO have some real luck -- YIPPEE!) developing from nothing
in 3 months can do funny things to one's plans.  The health problems of elderly
extended (but emotionally close) family members also went well beyond our
expectations, with operations among them coming up to something like a dozen as
of last week, and three suffering through illnesses till death claimed them.
Add the stress of Steve's sister having a serious chronic illness, and all the
job scares, and we just don't have a great fondness for 1993.  Oh, well, we all
have to have some years like this.
 
Our marriage and the ferrets kept us going through thick and thin.  Meeteetse
once again fainted when she smelled Mommy blood, poor thing.  She's got great
eyesight and loves to watch tv and monitors.  'Chopper kept us on our toes by
climbing everything possible and jumping to the impossible, including her ferret
on the flying trapeze act with the dining room ceiling light.  All loved the
scents of Thanksgiving and spent the day trying to stay awake to lick the air.
After a scant taste of eggnog, Ruffle extended her raisin word (banging on the
oven drawer handle -- a taught trick intended to strengthen rear legs) to
banging on the fridge, which appears to be "Give me eggnog."  It's probably the
brightest thing she has ever done.  Spot treasures the toy black footed ferret.
Meltdown tried very hard to fill my shoes and to take good care of me, the poor
little gal is just TOO responsible for her own good.  She's now on Otomax for a
recalcitrant ear infection (fungal), but her 6 month check-up (She's old enough
to need that.) showed her to be in the health of one a year younger.   Ferrets
are great, and so is my hubby.
 
Re: the untreated ferret with Cushings.  Please, reconsider.  If you don't treat
your little one, the fuzzy is sure to suffer for that.  If you are unable to
operate now, at least look into c-Lysodren or Ketaconazole to keep some control
until you can afford to operate.  We have always found that the funds we put
into our loved ones' health have been among the best spent of any monies.
Would you let a tumor go neglected if it were in your body?
 
I LOVE the term "ferret flop".
 
BTW:  to answer the question all are avoiding, what Spot likes massaged with a
vibrator is a full tummy.  We figure that the reason Meltie likes her hands done
is because of her early arthritis.   It's incredible what a hit the massager is
with these guys.  You sure learn:  A:  What might be inclined to get stiff or
sore on an individual, and 2:  Pleasurable  areas on them.   This isn't a joke;
we really DID get them their own vibrator after Meeteetse's attraction to the
Braun toothbrush taught us that all the rest enjoyed the vibrations just as
much.
 
Rog, sorry to hear that the audio didn't work with the Erdmann lecture on
lympho.
 
All, give your weasels a hug for us.
 
Barb, how did your public performance of the filk song go over?  Thanks for
permission to add it to the behavior segment.
 
Spoke with Pat, but how are you doing, Chris?  You two and Gregory know you
always have a place in our concerns.
 
[As you have in ours.  I'm just _very_ busy.  We're having a couple of
minor scares with Gregory, but so far so good.]
 
Love, Sukie, Steve, Meltdown, Ruffle, 'Chopper, Spot, and Meeteetse
 
[Posted in FML issue 0653]