The bridge called Lilly on last night, grandma Lilly pads as I called her wasn't sick, she wasn't tired, she made made it to the great age of two and three months, and it was time to feel young again.
Two years ago nearly to the day I went to the Andover show to collect Lilly. She was coming to live with Whizzbit in the hope a new generation of poms would arrive. A little earlier in the year I had met Lilly's dad Seth, a huge fluffy robo who I'd been instantly smitten with, so I was expecting Lilly to be a chunky girl. She was absolutely tiny, a delicate flighty little lady, so pretty and dainty, she melted my heart from the word go.
Whizzbit was equally smitten with his beau, and thankfully Lilly was also impressed with Whizzbit. They made a beautiful pairing and were happy together.
About six weeks later, Lilly built a big nest in the corner and nipped Whizzbit on the nose. Two sure signs the pitter patter of tiny paws is imminent! I removed Whizzbit and anxiously waited, sure enough two days later the beautiful little cheeps that signal new arrivals were coming from the nest. For the first two days all was well, them we sadly lost a pup, this seemed to throw Lilly and she became very nervous, moving the remaining pups about daily, not settling in a nest, racing round, leaving the pups round the cage. The best thing to do was to take all the other hamsters out of the room, close the curtains and hope for the best. It did the trick and Lilly settled well, I'd sneak in a couple of times a day, change water, add food and quietly listen. Lilly began to relax, and when the pups reached ten days old I was able to be in the room without her worrying. We then lost another pup, a beautiful white boy. Lilly coped much better this time, and I hoped and prayed the remaining pups would make it.
Thankfully they did, a gorgeous little husky boy and a beautiful little husky girl. I named them Billy and Minxie. Lilly did a wonderful job raising them, they were the most adorable babies.
At four weeks Billy moved in with his uncle Dasher, and I left Minxie with mum for a couple weeks more. It was then time to try for a second litter. I was lucky again, mid September four little beauties were born and this time Lilly stayed very relaxed, and all pups made it. Another adorable litter, three huskies I named Lola, Rosa and Archie, one little white boy named Claude.
The pups were 22 days old in this pic, and should have been with mum another week. At about half eleven at night I looked in the tub and saw blood. I checked all the pups and nothing, then saw Lilly sat tucked in the corner with her back to me. Her pouch was hanging from her mouth and she had completely shredded it trying to deal with it. I rang the emergency vet immediately, and rushed Lilly down for an operation. I was hopeful but given Lilly's size and the distress she was clearly in I prepared myself for the worst, she had to be opened up under her chin and have the pouch completely removed then be stitched up again. To my relief Lilly made it through, but was in a very delicate state, and was given a 20% chance of survival for the first 48hrs, then 50% for the rest of the week. Again she needed to be in a dark room on her own, medication twice a day. I gave her only soft foods and hoped for the best. She came through and made a complete recovery, the pups went with Daisy and Dasher and were all fine growing big and strong.
This is Lilly just before the stitches came out, she always had a little scar tissue on her chin, and would tilt her head to drink, other than that she made a completely recovery.
After three weeks Lilly seemed fully recovered so I moved Lola back in with her, and they settled in their pink ZZ1 to live happily together. Lola was a naughty teenager and did come out for a few weeks, but other than that they were an adorable pairing, little Lilly and her big fluffy girl. It's funny how little Lilly and Whizzbit produced such huge babies, Billy and Lola are about as big as it gets for robos!
They were two peas in a pod my gorgeous girls, always together, always busying about. They spent a lot of time in the wheel chilling, Lilly not always by choice
They lovely coming out together and would snuggle down with me or on the sofa for the evening no trouble at all.
They both looked after each other really well, Lilly was chief nest builder, Lola head of snuggling. I loved seeing them together and knew they were enjoying life as pampered poms
It was a huge surprise about six weeks ago when Lilly rejected Lola. I thought at first given her age it must be that she was unwell and wanted to be alone. It soon transpired that unfortunately Lola was very sick with Lymphoma, she is still here, but she'll be joining her mum again any time now.
Lilly has lived her last weeks in peace on her own, she was such a gentle loving little ham, always inquisitive, always friendly, wanting know what I was up to and to say hello. She loved coming out and would settle on the sofa or in my jumper for an hour or so of an evening. It's lovely that she didn't have to fight illness at all, that she just passed quietly. A little roll in the sand and then off to Whizzbit again, both young again at the bridge .
Thank you little Lilly, you've been the sweetest little girl. Thank you for Billy and Lola I will continue to love them and cherish them for as long as they stay. Run free my beautiful girl, I will look for a rainbow as bright and sparkling as you xxxxxxxxxxx
Lilly Pads Pompom
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