Amanda Jvv

Thank you to George & Charlies Secret Santas. As well as the cats (Polly, Maya & Oliver's) secret santa! Everything was a huge success!!!

George and Charlies presents have arrived. Thank you to both Secret Santas!!

Count me in! I did do some classes so can dust off my notes and see what sorts of exercises we did.

Just an update: Baby B is growing nicely. Placenta has moved and Baby is a lovely average 3lbs at 30weeks! All going well so far.

Thank you!! Having a fab day so far.

Polly, Oliver & Maya say thank you Secret Santa for their pressies. Daddy picked it up from the sorting office yesterday. Maya already tried to sneak off with one of the presents! They are safely tucked away for Christmas day now. Thank you secret Santa!

Hello Sproggie We ended up taking Fudge to Trinity Vets in Maidstone. The vet is very good and Fudge had her lumps cut out. We felt it was the right move as she was not ill, losing weight or had any changes except for the lump getting bigger. It had appeared to stop growing in the last two weeks but was looking like it might get cut/ caught on something. The Vet is sure they were just mammary tumors. She has two huge cuts where the lump was removed. Biggest one runs from her paw to almost end of her belly. Poor Fudge! But they were relatively easy to remove and she has been given hormone medication to stop them coming back plus pain killers. They were done on Tuesday and she is looking more sprightly although unhappy to be in her own cage for a few days. I am feeling like we did the right thing as she was well but the lump was getting too big. We ended up paying £120 including the consultation, 2 lump removals and medication. Well worth it if she ends up having a few more quality months! Thanks for the recommendation.

Bella is a lucky girl and very beautiful! She is in good hands now. Send me her details for the sponsor scheme please! Also now you have your hands full I think you should send Sir H to me

Hello everyone! Well Fudge is still going strong. Her lumps have got quite big. The inital big one is much bigger but doesnt effect her walking or anything yet. She can still climb and run about without it dragging on the floor. Given the time since the lump developed (two months) and the fact that Fudge shows no other signs, she is active, eating, healthy and hasnt lost any weight - we think we need to get a second opinion and it might be worth giving the lump removal a go. I called Trinity vets but they aren't open Sundays which makes it difficult. Sproggie whats the other vets you said you used, half an hour from Dartford? Chasta - how is Coco doing?

Good suggestion on Elton John Your Song Love Songbird! Crazy Little thing called love? At last - Eta James? If you have a singer look up words for You & Me by Lifehouse. Sounds amazing with just a guitar. Lovely lyrics. Good luck! I know how hard it is we agonised over it for ages eventually something clicks and you agree! Good luck!

Ha ha ha. Thanks for all the advice. It is definitely my intention (despite the fear) of having as natural a birth as possible. I dont plan to be too fixed on my birth plan and am happy to consider whatever needs to be done to get her out. I have read lots of advice on keeping active and staying home as long as possible as well as letting gravity take its course. I quite fancy being in the birthing pool for the first few stages and then getting out to give birth however with 1 birthing pool in the hospital if anyone else wants it that day my chances are slim. Keep the advice coming. I feel like if I know stories of all possible outcomes then I can be prepared if that happens to me. Most of all I am excited too Thanks everyone. Ps: Only thing I am saying is her name begins with a B!

email sent. Thanks!

Hello everyone Haven't had a chance but thought I would update you. I'm now 20 weeks along so halfway already and baby is growing as it should be. We also found out we're having a girl. The first girl in my husbands family in 70years so needless to say his family are over the moon and pink things have been flooding in already! This is going to be one spoilt little girl. This is my mothers first grandchild so she was over the moon already not matter whether it was a boy or girl! Sorry to say that no polls needed on the name as we had a girls name we both liked all along which we will share once she is here. Due date is 24 Feb but have been told to add around 10 days for your first baby. Howver at present I have a low lying placenta so may need a caesarian but this is likely to move as the uterus moves up. Either way birth terrifies me! So please lots of advice would be appreciated.!

Congratulations!! She is a cutey!

Oh no! Hope everything is ok. I'm going to take a pic of the lump this weekend. Its not got bigger these last few days and the one on the other side hasn't grown at all. Fudge is still her usual self so will just keep an eye on her.

Happy Birthday Beenzie!!

Thank you. I hope for a (lot of!) few months left because she is still quite young and really such a lovely sweet rat. My worry is that the lump will grow too big before it actually affects her otherwise. Its under her front arm so if it gets to big she may be unable to walk properly. Can rats manage on 3 legs? They are my first rats so this is all new. But we handle her everyday and check on them regularly so we can see if she is eating/ playing and just being normal. I wasn't really prepared to fall so hard for these lovely girls. Thanks for your advice and thoughts Sproggie and Ange!

Happy Birthday Wiggle! You are definitely a special boy

Thanks for the information! We're in Gravesend now so the Maidstone one isnt too far. Where is the other. We have had more updates now though. We were initially told its a fatty lump but that afternoon a second lump on other side came up. Were given antibiotics and took her in on Saturday. They havent really got much bigger. One is hazelnut sixe and the other is size of cherry tomatoe. Vet said its likely to be cancerous given there is two and the fact they came up so quickly. She recommends best course is just to just let her live now for however long she has left rather than putting her through a pointless op. We have decided to just love her until she gets uncomfortable or sick. So far she is normal and running and eating as normal but its heartbreaking and I never knew I could love a rat like that. I hope we are doing the right thing. Do you think its worth getting a second opinion? Or just leave her in peace until its time.

Thank you! I had a good chat with my vet who said to bring her in next weekend and see exactly what we're dealing with. That she should be ok for the week and that this particular vet has done numerous surgeries on rats. The quote was £175!!! (less £65 if we dont want the lump tested). I would never begrudge my animals the chance of comfort and a longer more quality filled life. I do just worry if the other 2 also get lumps... Fingers crossed that little Fudge and her sisters will all be ok. Thanks again.

Hi our 18month old female rat has a lump in her armpit. It's about the size of a hazelnut. It doesnt appear sore to touch and she is still acting normal and climbing about. We've only just noticed it as she is the rat that prefers not to be picked up and has been like that all her little life. Husband says the lump is somewhat soft. I say its hard. Its in the lose skin and doesn't appear to be connected to her body. Having a look on the internet everything suggests it could be a mammary tumor, usually benign. However what should we do? Monitor it for a week and see if it grows? We're away on Monday for 5 days. Will she be ok for 5 days? It wont suddenly take over her body in that time. (Am getting paranoid now). Take her to the vet straight away? I just worry the stress of the vet, having never been, would be too much stress for her before we leave her for 5 days. Any advice would be appreciated? Thank you! Amanda

Thanks!

Wow!! Thanks for all the info everyone. I wasn't aware of that. I will definitely pursue this since the machine is only 18 months old and still looks like new. Thank you - see I knew the wise fugees would know

Thanks for the replies. The manufacturers have apparently gone under on the dishwasher side. We originally bought it from Argos, called with receipt and was told they cant help because of this. Other times they have directed us to the manufacturer. We dont have a screen on our dishwasher so no idea where to look on error messages! I did google for cookworks, faults serial number etc..no luck. How sad that I rely on my dishwasher. I dont think I'd ever cook if I didn't have the dishwasher!

Thinking of you