I write this with a very heavy heart so PLEASE no emails flaming me. I have 2 ferrets that need a new forever home. I have been struggling with the decision to find them a new home for over a year now. I had a new baby last December and since he was born I just do not have the time they need. I am staying home with my son and because of this my husband is working longer hours at his regular job and also late hours with his side business. I am left to care for the ferrets on top of my son who takes up all my free time. By the time I get him into bed at night it is 8:30pm and then I am spending my entire evening chasing ferrets until the wee hours of the morning. We have 5 ferrets and they need to get out in 3 different shifts so you can imagine how much time that takes. We have a home for our bonded trio, but not for a few more months. So this leaves us with 2 more to find loving homes for. So I am doing 3 different shifts of cleaning cages, playing with fuzzies, etc...I was having a hard time keeping up with all of the work, but I was trying really hard to "do it all". Well, I am currently 6 months pregnant in a "HIGH" risk pregnancy and I just can't keep up anymore by myself.... cages have to be cleaned...the ferrets are in our bedroom (we live in a 2 bedroom apartment and my son's is the second bedroom) so this is the only set up we can use, and I can't let the cages go without cleaning because my ferrets don't deserve a dirty cage, but also because I can't stand sleeping in our room if their cages smell. My doctor has put me on midified bedrest for my blood pressure, swelling, breathing machine at night and other problems I am having with this pregnancy. In order to let them out I need to unassemble my breathing machine and oxygen every night, which takes me awhile in itself and then re-assemble it. If I don't they will chew through the tubes. I can't lift anything over 20lbs...their cages are those midwest ones and my husband had made several floors out of wood so they are VERY heavy to pick up. So now I can't lift the cages to clean them anymore which means after working 18 hour days that my husband is staying up to clean the cages until 2am... which means I am not getting to bed and I am exhausted and finding it hard to care for my son during the daytime when he is up at 6am and I am getting 4 hours of sleep each night on top of being pregnant making me tired as well. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow and I know I am going to be put on strict bedrest so my Mom will be coming over to help me out with my son. She hates the ferrets and won't touch them so I know she won't let them out for me. So basically they are going to be left in their cages and get out on weekends. I don't want my fuzzies living like this. I had a shelter mom tell me it was my responsibility to take care of them. I feel that YES it is my responsibility to care for them and that is why I am trying to find them a new home. They don't deserve to be stuck in their cages with minimal playtime...I am trying to find them homes because I want them to be happy and get the attention and playtime they need and are use to. It wouldn't be responsible of me to keep them in their cages all the time with minimal or no playtime. Keegan is special needs. He is almost 5 years old and is adrenal. He had adrenal surgery to remove his left adrenal in 9/01. When the vet opened him up he saw that he also had a tumor on his right adrenal, but said it was too risky to remove it. After his recovery we started him on Lupron injections and his hair all grew back (he was almost completely bald) and his aggression stopped. We were able to put him back in the cage with Noah. He needs the lupron shot every few months to help with his symptoms, but it doesn't help with the aggression all the time so he is in his own cage. He is a very playful and loving little guy....loves to give kisses. He is a sable. And Noah...the other 3 never accepted him so we had him caged with Keegan until his problems started with the adrenal problems. So now Noah is in a cage by himself. He is 3 years old and a lively little guy. He gives lots of kisses and will nip your feet to get your attention. He loves to hide things..especially socks. He is also a sable. I live in Northeast Massachusetts and will travel to meet you if you are in the New England area...or if you are in MA will somehow bring them to your home. My home phone number is (978) 887 -2432. If I don't answer it is because I am laying down or at a doctor appointment so please leave a message where you can be reached and a good time to call. Thank you for reading this.... Terri [Posted in FML issue 4041]