Ok, a bit off topic, but I can't help it... There is a new little "kit" in the business, coming after several false starts and waiting games. My sweet daughter Gloria has presented me with a brand new "kit", Heather, 8 lbs heavy, 20.5 inches long, and the cutest little deep blue eyes you ever, ever saw. Gloria is a bit sore after her c-section, but doing quite well, as is her husband, who has impressed me with his dedication in giving back rubs during various critical moments. I now have a brand new title, and I think I like this one the best: Granddad. And soon it will be a double title: my other daughter Elizabeth is also pregnant and is due next summer! I actually found out about Elizabeth while in Europe during what became the infamous "80 Euro phone call" that killed my Vodafone while I was in southern France. In a few days I can send a jpeg of me holding my new "kit" for any of my friends that ask. Anyway, this is why I fell of the face of the earth this week. I've been helping: emotional support, ice chip monitor, running for food and drinks, and being sent out of the room to stand guard outside the door every few hours. I think I've had 10 hours of sleep since my trip to York PA, but the exhaustion was worth it the moment I got to hold the little pink monkey. I think that I'll stop wearing Hawaiian shirts to ferret shows and start wearing t-shirts with Heather's face on them instead. Life is good. So very, very good. Oh, to make this more ferret oriented so it is not so off topic, a little update on Bruiser for those following the saga. All tests (x-rays, blood) are still negative in all areas. One test came back positive for ant poison, but a second and third test was negative, so we now think it was a false positive. One current idea is that he had a stroke that zapped the motor area of his brain. Another is that he has some type of degenerative neurological disorder. Regardless, he can now crawl over the floor in a sort of staggering, flopping way, mostly a crawl, and has been playing with some toys in the last week. All indications is that he will recover more from his total paralysis, but I am not sure he will ever return to normal. I am not sure any true diagnosis can be made until after his death (hopefully in the distant future) and a necropsy can be done. In the meantime, Bruiser and I are doing patterning, lots of physical enrichment, and sensory stimulation. Thanks to all of you who have offered your emotional support during this mess. Bob C talktobobc at yahoo.com [Remember that article above about clicker training your kit! BIG] [Posted in FML 5451]