Pompompoms
12-24-2013, 07:16 AM
Well, so soon after I wrote Rolo's memorial saying I had hoped he would be the last in what's been a heavy loss year, I find myself saying goodbye to my beautiful little Lulah.
For anyone that has followed Lulah's thread in the health section, as I said she lost her battle to recover from her latest surgery, and was pts yesterday morning having deteriorated to the point of shutting down almost completely, but just not being quite able to take that final step.
My vet said he had never known a hamster survive three surgeries especially one so tiny, and when those surgeries were twice in one day the first time, then six weeks later another was needed. Lulah was also fighting a womb infection at the time of the first surgery, my tiny little white feather of a robo was I think the hardest fighter I have ever had and I am genuinely so sad I couldn't help her through her final fight.
Lulah came to me last October from Tammy, she was actually born in Holland so was a little Dutch girl, a first for the pompom hamily. It was time for my beautiful boy Billy to have a little lady in his life and hopefully produce the next generation of little pompoms. Not for the first time, Vectis returning from a show, and I met on a very cold rainy night in Tesco car park, and I was handed a box with beautiful new little fluff to care for. When I got home, I saw the tiniest little white girl, so dainty and pretty, initially very shy I named her Tallulah and she was adorable.
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSC07080_zps48fc0f4c.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSC07080_zps48fc0f4c.jpg.html)
I wanted to give her a chance to settle in, and gain a little weight, so I kept Lulah on her own for a little while, bonding with her and helping her settle. She was soon a lovely round relaxed little lady
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0153_zpscce0beee.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0153_zpscce0beee.jpg.html)
Lulah and Billy's introduction went very well. As Billy tended to do he used his bulk to take charge and claim Lulah as his own, but don't let the picture fool you, after his initial claiming, there was only one boss, and Billy got used to life very much under the paw :wink:
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0075_zps9e083d4f.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0075_zps9e083d4f.jpg.html)
As my little ladies often do, Lulah let me know she was expecting by chasing Billy about, and biting him on the foot. Billy came out and made the most of his bachelor pad again, while also milking his slightly swollen foot for all it was worth, sitting with it stuck out to get as many treats out of me as possible. Lulah built a huge nest, and stayed very relaxed , she began to waddle about and I would creep in a few times a day to listen for the beautiful cheeps of new little lives. On the 4th of January this year I heard them, and lots of them too, I kept my fingers crossed all was well, and waited till it was time to meet them. I would occasionally see Lulah, but most of the time she was tucked right away seeing to her little ones
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0436_zps8f8b817f.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0436_zps8f8b817f.jpg.html)
As the babies were about ten days old I became aware it was a larger litter, Lulah had split them now and would feed half, settle them to sleep, then go to the other side of the nest and feed the other half, this was when I got to count them and realised there were eight. They were growing fast ans on day twelve out they came, two whites and six husky, so beautiful each and every one. Lulah soon gave up trying to keep them contained, she was happy for me to be around them, and continued to to a great job as they were very demanding!
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0710_zps1a2a03fa.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0710_zps1a2a03fa.jpg.html)
I would leave food out for her on a high bridge they couldn't get to, so when she had them all asleep she would come out, eat her fill, then rest under the bridge and take some time for herself. She would normally be joined my a little one in time, but you could see how much she enjoyed the little bit of quiet she had. And if was only one pup such as Rascal in this pic, she still got a nice rest.
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0989_zpsb5e48df7.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0989_zpsb5e48df7.jpg.html)
She spent a lot of time with Tinker, he was the runt of the litter, and struggled with his balance initially, although he was ok by himself she just gave him that bit more attention and time while he developed, and he was a complete mummy's boy
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0776_zps5ca0b2b5.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0776_zps5ca0b2b5.jpg.html)
I'm just going to include some of my favorite pics of Lulah with the pups, she was just such a great mum, there were always at least a couple round her and she had the patience of a saint, even when in the ten minutes she actually got to herself one evening, they managed to completely wreck a totally fresh sand pit!
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1033_zps7746f710.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1033_zps7746f710.jpg.html)
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1128_zps273a84a0.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1128_zps273a84a0.jpg.html)
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1296_zps2e1ef941.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1296_zps2e1ef941.jpg.html)
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1323_zps3a86112b.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1323_zps3a86112b.jpg.html)
For anyone that has followed Lulah's thread in the health section, as I said she lost her battle to recover from her latest surgery, and was pts yesterday morning having deteriorated to the point of shutting down almost completely, but just not being quite able to take that final step.
My vet said he had never known a hamster survive three surgeries especially one so tiny, and when those surgeries were twice in one day the first time, then six weeks later another was needed. Lulah was also fighting a womb infection at the time of the first surgery, my tiny little white feather of a robo was I think the hardest fighter I have ever had and I am genuinely so sad I couldn't help her through her final fight.
Lulah came to me last October from Tammy, she was actually born in Holland so was a little Dutch girl, a first for the pompom hamily. It was time for my beautiful boy Billy to have a little lady in his life and hopefully produce the next generation of little pompoms. Not for the first time, Vectis returning from a show, and I met on a very cold rainy night in Tesco car park, and I was handed a box with beautiful new little fluff to care for. When I got home, I saw the tiniest little white girl, so dainty and pretty, initially very shy I named her Tallulah and she was adorable.
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSC07080_zps48fc0f4c.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSC07080_zps48fc0f4c.jpg.html)
I wanted to give her a chance to settle in, and gain a little weight, so I kept Lulah on her own for a little while, bonding with her and helping her settle. She was soon a lovely round relaxed little lady
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0153_zpscce0beee.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0153_zpscce0beee.jpg.html)
Lulah and Billy's introduction went very well. As Billy tended to do he used his bulk to take charge and claim Lulah as his own, but don't let the picture fool you, after his initial claiming, there was only one boss, and Billy got used to life very much under the paw :wink:
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0075_zps9e083d4f.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0075_zps9e083d4f.jpg.html)
As my little ladies often do, Lulah let me know she was expecting by chasing Billy about, and biting him on the foot. Billy came out and made the most of his bachelor pad again, while also milking his slightly swollen foot for all it was worth, sitting with it stuck out to get as many treats out of me as possible. Lulah built a huge nest, and stayed very relaxed , she began to waddle about and I would creep in a few times a day to listen for the beautiful cheeps of new little lives. On the 4th of January this year I heard them, and lots of them too, I kept my fingers crossed all was well, and waited till it was time to meet them. I would occasionally see Lulah, but most of the time she was tucked right away seeing to her little ones
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0436_zps8f8b817f.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0436_zps8f8b817f.jpg.html)
As the babies were about ten days old I became aware it was a larger litter, Lulah had split them now and would feed half, settle them to sleep, then go to the other side of the nest and feed the other half, this was when I got to count them and realised there were eight. They were growing fast ans on day twelve out they came, two whites and six husky, so beautiful each and every one. Lulah soon gave up trying to keep them contained, she was happy for me to be around them, and continued to to a great job as they were very demanding!
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0710_zps1a2a03fa.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0710_zps1a2a03fa.jpg.html)
I would leave food out for her on a high bridge they couldn't get to, so when she had them all asleep she would come out, eat her fill, then rest under the bridge and take some time for herself. She would normally be joined my a little one in time, but you could see how much she enjoyed the little bit of quiet she had. And if was only one pup such as Rascal in this pic, she still got a nice rest.
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0989_zpsb5e48df7.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0989_zpsb5e48df7.jpg.html)
She spent a lot of time with Tinker, he was the runt of the litter, and struggled with his balance initially, although he was ok by himself she just gave him that bit more attention and time while he developed, and he was a complete mummy's boy
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0776_zps5ca0b2b5.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF0776_zps5ca0b2b5.jpg.html)
I'm just going to include some of my favorite pics of Lulah with the pups, she was just such a great mum, there were always at least a couple round her and she had the patience of a saint, even when in the ten minutes she actually got to herself one evening, they managed to completely wreck a totally fresh sand pit!
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1033_zps7746f710.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1033_zps7746f710.jpg.html)
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1128_zps273a84a0.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1128_zps273a84a0.jpg.html)
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1296_zps2e1ef941.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1296_zps2e1ef941.jpg.html)
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1323_zps3a86112b.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/user/Rican_2010_album/media/Lulah%20memorial/DSCF1323_zps3a86112b.jpg.html)