On the guilty side, I need to work on his socialization more - he's a little nippy with others as of late:/ He's such a great little guy though we're snuggling, exchanging kisses, and he's currently grooming my ear.

Sept. 18, 2007 I have a strange growth on the side of my head...

Sept. 19, 2007 More Digit pictures... It's hard to focus in these situations. heh.

Dec. 11, 2007

We just got back from taking Digit to the vet. H is now on his way back to the vet with some of Digit's sprouts and bag o bugs so he has his favorite foods. 

Somehow in a moment of stupidity I forgot both to close my bedroom door and check if Rufus [the cat originally belonging to the neighbors - the one who has adopted us instead of staying at home w/two pitbulls] had snuck into our house. I gave Digit his morning bug treats and he didn't want to go back into his cage. He tried to avoid this by flying into H's room. Rufus mouthed him at minimum before I could get to them. I feel sick writing this. Then Dight flew into a window. At this point, they're observing him, treated him with antibiotics, and treating a 1/4" wound on his back. I've been crying for almost three hours; I can't seem to stop. H & N seem to be trying to tell me the bird is going to be ok [either because they think he's tough as he was found outside in the cold last winter or in an attempt to get me from both continuing to beat myself up and panicking], but I don't know. I can imagine all sorts of terrible unseen injuries not to mention the large bad wound and that he's favoring one foot. I just feel so awful. sobs. I keep thinking that if ONLY I'd closed my door - over and over. That all this is all my fault. How he's completely dependent on me and I can't make a mistake. A mistake like this can cost him his life and break my heart. -over and over - it's my fault... Then I had been thinking what if he dies and don't get to say goodbye. If he's not going to make it I want to be with him, touch him, and snuggle him. But H just called the vet and told them if anything changes and he's taking a bad turn that we want to see him. They said they would, but that he's not in critical condition. That he is recovering from shock, that he's not actively bleeding from the wound, and that he's being treated with antibiotics. *sniffle*  He's such a lovin' bird. We snuggle almost every day sometimes for hours. He just loves to be held and scritched. I can't imagine not snuggling him tonight or tomorrow or morning routine of lovin', scritches, and bugs. sobs.

Later 12-11-07 I've cancelled the rest of my clients today. I couldn't manage it without crying so I guess that's answer enough that today is a loss. sigh. I did manage to eat some pita chips and sip down some tea. I reminded myself while talking to a client that I don't do this well but I do manage to many other things well, maybe not perfect, but well. *sniffle*  I'd like to just find a place of comfort inside myself. Normally, my bedroom is a good comfort place but not with Digit's cage sitting there.. looming empty... sigh.

5 pm 12-11-2007 The vet just said that he's doing really really well and it gets better. They're sending him home with med.s tonight. I'm warming up the truck to go get him!

9 am 12-12-2007 So, other than waking in a panic that Digit had died in his sleep and being afraid to get out of bed to look this morning. I'm doing ok. He is ok from what I could tell. After a couple of minutes of lying there freakin' out, I crept over, lifted his cover, and peaked at him. He looks be sleeping peacefully perched half way up his cage by a toy. I remembered to put on some eye cream last night so my eyes don't look as a bad as they could have after crying for hours yesterday. My clients have been really patient and sweet. I need to call a couple of folks back from and reschedule them from yesterday. 

After going to get Digit from the avian vet I wouldn't leave him to even go make dinner or something for myself. I ate some pita chips yesterday and that was it. Until H brought home dinner for us, thank you:) We of course ate in my room with Digit nearby with the door closed! I knitted and half-watched a little TV. At one point, Digit was desperate to be with me and we had made some adjustments to his cage [new fresh papers so I could watch his poo and fresh seeds] both times he flew out of his cage to me. Which freaked me out, because what if he's over-exerting himself. It also was making me hurt inside watching him climb around in his cage sore and unable to use his body like he's used to. He was having some difficulty moving using one of his feet and obviously sore. It just hurts so much to see him hurting and worse because it's my fault. The vet says he'll moderate himself and be mellow. But he was climbing and flying in part to eat but then wanting to be with me. So after he ate, I let him stay out with me with a little coaxing from H. Digit and I did a little really gentle snuggling. He perched on my finger and I lightly pet him around his face and I cupped him with my other hand until he started to doze off. I put him back in his cage. He wanted back out to be with me but settled down and went to sleep. He's still sleeping.

Today I have the not so fun task of administering two medications to him. An antibiotic and an antifungal. Wish me luck and hopefully I won't end up wearing most of it and some of it will get in him. Today is critical that he's doing better not too lethargic or injured in ways we didn't originally know about. So, I'll be watching him closely today. *fingers crossed*

Dec 13, 2007 Digit is doing well enough he tried to get away from me this morning and his medications this morning. Last night we had our usual snuggle fest until he started falling asleep. He's still favoring one leg but he is using it. I'm starting to feel a little less completely freaked out. I slept good last night and awoke with less fear. I'm going to work today in Kent and asking the housecleaner to either not clean my room at all or just not clean my room until I get home. I don't want to cause him any unnecessary stress. I'm coming home on my lunch hour to check on him.

Dec 14, 2007 Agile, hungry, noisy and cranky is how I would describe Digit this morning. He was doing his best to avoid taking his medications. He was delighted to have his bugs and fresh sprouts. He looked to be using his sore leg more today essentially favoring it less.  I feel a bit wrung out and slept hard last night. I feel sort of tired in a stress/emo kind of way. I'm glad we're both recovering:)
Back to your regularly schedule programming.

Dec 16, 2007 Digit's doing great! Enough so that he's giving me heck when I'm not givin' him the lovin' he wants:)

Dec 18, 2007 We just got back from taking Digit to the vet for a follow up. His wound is healing great, he looks & acts great, his heart & lungs sound good, he's pretty much out of the woods for risk of blood poisoning [cat's mouths have bad stuff in them], and he's feisty/calm:) Weight between 21 and 22 grams. I still need to give him med.s twice a day for another week I think or until the med.s are used up. He did sleep upside down again last night? Whazzup with that? I know I watch a lot of vampire movies and stuff. But huh??? He slept upside in the part of his cage decorated with corn husk strips:)

Dec 28, 2007 After our morning routine, including Digit riding around on his basket with treat bugs in a side food dish, and Rufus, the furry kitty hunter, safely locked away in a room, I got to watch a new event. Digit took a full-on 5 minute bath in his water dish. It was hilarious but I didn't laugh afraid if I did so, he'd stop. He sat in his dish, flopped in and all around it, getting himself thoroughly wet, and seemed to be having a grand time! I'll refresh the water in a minute. I know what I'm getting him for the anniversary of his joining our family! A bird bath that attaches to the cage bars. He's been giving me difficulties trying to get him to shower with me. He seems to have quite an opinion. He flies out of the shower every time I try to bring him in. He's more content to watch me shower from the bathroom sink and sing to me than to shower with me. And now, I know he can bath himself:) heh. But here's a picture from March 2007 of him enjoying a shower with me.

1-24-08 I must have invited Digit into the shower the right way:) He joined me for a fun shower:)