I was upset to see that the lump was starting to grow in mass, but not in volume. It was getting more solid and less fatty feeling. I knew that I had to make an appointment with the vet. So, it turns out that he was on a week's vacation. I scheduled for 1/25/05, the Tuesday after our housewarming party.

The visit itself was actually quite pleasant, as I pretty much knew the result. I brought along Jasmine as moral support (and I figured the vet would like to see her as an adult, show her off and all! :) Turns out that Jasmine is about 20 grams heavier than Shadow! Here, I thought that Jasmine was the light-weight one! (Either way, they are both about 9 ounces, so it's not like they are big anyways).

I set up an appointment for mass removal surgery for this morning. I was feeling optimistic when I was at the Vet's office, but as I got home, I couldn't bare to think of losing little Shadow. She's so much smaller than Tierna was, and about a year younger. So, those are the minuses and the pluses. Anethesia on the little ones can be very risky. Yet, she has youth to help her pull through and recover faster. Damn! Any way you look at it, it's still surgery.

I have to wait until later in the day to find out the results. I gave them Ryan's work number, thinking that I would go in to volunteer by the time they called. So, I will also just call and check before I head out today.

Newly added on Feb. 3rd: Shadow is back home, she is a bit lonely, and has to be separated from the other girls for 2 weeks. The other sad thing, she has a cone around her head (but it's really a clear plastic cup that they cut so she can eat and walk around). I had to change her box right away because the cone prevented her from walking straight in. I let Jasmine in her cage once and Jasmine first explored the new living space before even realizing that there was another rat there. When she sniffed/saw Shadow, she immediately went for her stitches! I decided any rat interactions for Shadow will be VERY short and closely monitored.

Feelings of anxiousness,
Carisa

P.S. As my last entry had some accomplishments, I figured I'd update the relevant ones to keep this "new" tally going.

• I am doing very well in my American Sign Language class, and have encouraged a fellow volunteer to join the class
  
• My foster feral boy, Silver, is now an official member of the family
  
• Because of my work as a mentor volunteer, I think I can create a new position to get paid for the duties I currently do, and learn a few new ones while I'm at it!
  
• Silver started his toilet training 1/24/05 and he's been transitioning well
  
• I've inspired a new wave of crafters to get out there and make things for kitties
  
• I've taught crocheting after only knowing how to do it myself for a month!
  
• We invited our realtor to our housewarming party and she remembered to get us a LEMON TREE! Yum!
  
• My student loans are due to be paid back now and I'm managing my budget to make it possible (until I get a job)
  
• I gave almost 100 hours of my time last month to volunteering

Happy idea for today:
aiming towards doing something you love for a living

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