#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Food and Life

The Story of the Formerly Homeless Now One-Eyed Hamster {Meet Charlotte}

January 8, 2014 · Narrative

Early last summer, Madeline started asking for a hamster. I demurred, saying we were at capacity with two cats, one dog, rotating foster dogs, and, you know, kids. But that didn’t stop her from dragging me over to the hamster cages every time we walked into the pet store.

Which is a lot.

I kept putting her off. I just didn’t want to juggle another responsibility. Her Dad has a rabbit, so she can get her small animal fix there. And, to be quite honest, small animals kind of make me squeamish.

Flash forward a few months later, and a friend posted that someone had found a hamster at a restaurant downtown. It needed a home. And before I could stop myself, I offered our home.

Who has ever heard of a homeless hamster? Lost dogs and cats for sure. But a hamster?

I decided it was fate.

And I have a knack for doing that.

So on the evening of a busy night of Back to School festivities in September, one friend dropped off the hamster, while another stopped by later to drop off her old hamster cage that she didn’t need anymore.

And so Charlotte became an O’Malley.

Untitled
Merry is very fond of Charlotte. Or wants to eat her. Which is why she isn’t allowed in Madeline’s room unsupervised.

Ever since Charlotte joined our family, she has been Madeline’s and Madeline has taken her role very seriously. She is responsible for making sure she always has enough food and water, and Nick helps her when it’s time to clean the cage.

I am pretty much nearly completely hands off.

Well, except for the fact that I need to buy the food and bedding.

Which is pretty much the perfect relationship for Charlotte and I.

Last Friday night, the kids came to report that Charlotte’s eye was bulging out of her head.

And you know how kids exaggerate.

A lot.

But they weren’t.

And it was.

A lot.

A quick google search indicates that bulging hamster eyes are pretty common, and a sign of infection, and they need to be seen by a vet stat.

Since it was about 9:30 at night, there wasn’t much we could do but get the vet’s hours for the next morning, so we could call as soon as they opened. And three vets later, we found one that treats hamsters (heretofore known as “exotic animals”) and could squeeze us in before an dog owner surrender that we also had to take care of (that’s Harry, and more on him another day).

So we meet Dr. Sarah for the first time, and she is so kind. And I’m convinced she is from Maine or Seattle without even asking her. I just know. She has this certain way. She takes her time examining Charlotte, talking to Madeline, and then whisks Charlotte away to another room for an extra pair of hands.

Which is pretty much never a good sign.

And meanwhile I’m stilling thinking … I can’t believe we’re at the vet for a hamster.

She comes back and says we have two options. She can try to push the eye back in and hope that there is no tumor or abscess behind it or she can remove the eye. I ask the vet what she would do. If this was her hamster. Or, more to the point, her daughter’s. I look at Madeline’s face, so much pain all over it, and, of course, go with the trying-to-save-the-eye method.

Which is also cheaper. We leave Charlotte there, with a promise that the vet will call later in the afternoon. And although she wouldn’t tell me before I made the decision, after I did, the vet told me should would have done the same thing.

And Madeline, the resident Hamster Mama, is upset. Heartbroken. That we are leaving Charlotte behind. I assure her that everything will be ok.

And hope that that’s a promise I can keep.

The vet calls and the eye is worse than we thought and it can’t be saved.

And so … sedation, pain medication, eye removal, stitches … and we can pick her up the next day.

On a Sunday.

I am forever grateful to vets who work to help the hearts of my five year old.

Sunday morning comes and Madeline had us there about 15 minutes before they opened.

She just wanted to be in the same space as Charlotte again.

To feel like everything was going to be ok.

And so Charlotte comes out in the very same shoe box she came in. Eye socket all stitched up. Three medications dispensed.

I’m listening to the vet tech explain how to give Charlotte her medication. Two orally and one topically on her eye.

All the while thinking … all this for a hamster. And also thinking, I hope the kids are listening because I just can’t do this.

Squeamish.

And now a few days later, aside from the period when Charlotte was found homeless wandering the streets downtown, this has to be the worst week of her life.

But hopped up on pain medication (and I do mean hopped up) and antibiotics, she is thankfully doing fine.

The day we picked her up, we met friends to go rock climbing, and one of them asked me … “after going through all that, particularly the expense, what if she dies today?”

Because a) he’s a typical guy and that’s how they do and b) because hamsters aren’t exactly known for their longevity.

And I answered right away.

I will know I did the right thing.

Because in that moment, in the vet’s office on Saturday, when I had to make a decision as to what to do, I knew this was a teaching moment.

Although to many, this is just a hamster (and even to me), but it is Madeline’s hamster. But more importantly, it’s a life. And how could I tell her that Charlotte’s life is any less valuable than any other living thing?

I can’t.

And so it goes. I know I made the right decision. By Charlotte. By my own conscience. And by my daughter.

Harry and Charlotte-001
And tonight Harry met Charlotte. And he wants her in the very same way that Merry does. So no unsupervised visits for him either.

When I went upstairs to snap a quick shot to include in tonight’s post, I had to stop for a minute and make sure she was still breathing.

I’ve never seen her sleeping sideways like that.

But thankfully she is.

And all is right with the world.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Charlotte the hamster

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    January 9, 2014 at 7:55 am

    I’m glad you shared the full story, because i was wondering. You did the right thing, for sure!
    Joanne recently posted..Meyer Lemon Macarons {#TheLeftoversClub}

    Reply
  2. patsyk says

    January 9, 2014 at 9:38 am

    While we can’t have pets like that at our house (my husband is allergic and still wants one as much as the boys), this type of thing is what always would worry me… soothing a broken-heart over a sick pet. It sounds like the beloved hamster is on the mend and that Madeline is lucky to have a mom who knows how important it is to take care of all of the members of the family. :)
    patsyk recently posted..Decadent Chocolate Cookies {Recipe}

    Reply
  3. meredith in sock monkey slippers says

    January 9, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    aww!

    Reply
  4. Meg says

    January 9, 2014 at 5:51 pm

    What wonderful pet parents y’all are. Charlotte is lucky to have you! And I hope she continues to improve!
    Meg recently posted..How I’m simplifying in 2014

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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