Knights Becoming and a Lady in Waiting

Rat Update

I know many of you were waiting with baited breath (or maybe baited traps) for my next rat baby update.

All nine babies are doing well.  They are now three weeks old (I think), have lots of fur, eyes opened, and have started fighting with Mrs. Heidi to get the carrot treats.  I thought this meant it was time to practice a little discrete rat birth control, so Prince Derryboy and Prince Dannyboy accompanied me to the pet store today, with a full rat cage in hand.

The good news: they'll be happy to take most of the babies and Mrs. Heidi (the squirmy, nipping little creature).  They also said you can keep male rats together-- rats are social and like company.

The bad news: the babies need at least one more week, probably two, before they can be separated from mom.  But they still have about four weeks before they can do a cage refill (ie, reproduce), so I'm not stressing.  Yet.  Hee.

We're hoping to keep the original Miss Sally, plus the little striped male I love (he likes to be held and is very curious), plus one of the dark ones and one of the white and black ones.  We'd be able to tell them all apart and everyone would have a friend in their cage.  Plus, as I brightly informed my husband, when the rats are two years old, we can have them reproduce so we have "replacements".  (Rats in captivity usually last about two years).  Clever me.

Who'd know that when the boys brought the rat home I'd become a rodent advocate??

About Supermom

10:49 AM, May. 6, 2006 .. Posted by 3menandalittlelady

I needed this. I struggle in so many areas. My house is quite in a mess right now, and I just feel like I am failing everyone. I know there are things that need to change, but I'll never be superwoman. Bless your day!
Beth

Untitled Comment

10:18 AM, May. 7, 2006 .. Posted by WaitingontheLord

What a wonderfully brave mother you are!
I don't know if I could handle having rats in the house. But you can just never tell what you'll do for your kids! With two boys I've already stood calmly by while we observed a snake in the back yard; had pet tadpoles - then frogs; kept ladybugs; and patiently waited while DH showed kids the tick that had attached itself to my neck (that was the hardest!)
I love who the kids are forming me into! :)

Hiya!

8:02 AM, May. 8, 2006 .. Posted by maureenmichele

I enjoyed your post about the rats. I prefer guinea pigs myself, but I've never owned a rat, so maybe I just don't understand the joys of rat ownership. I really enjoyed your post about superwoman. The thing I always get hung up on is: How messy IS too messy? How clean IS clean enough? How much time in the Word IS enough time? (Guess who is a perfectionist?! ;-) ) I guess I might spend the rest of my life figuring out the answers to those questions.