Goodbye, Martha Washington

The night before Valentine's Day, I had a feeling that our little female zebra finch Martha was not doing well. We had gotten her and George about seven years ago, so I knew that they were elderly birds. Sure enough, on Valentine's Day morning, she was dead. (Martha is the one looking up in the picture above--I can't seem to find the better picture we have of her.)

She was born with a club foot, and some atypical markings that made me think she had some genetic problems (being a pet store bird, and all). We didn't notice until we got her and George home. We debated about taking her back to get a "better" bird, but we didn't, and I'm glad.

This is the part that conflicts me the most about having pets--I don't like the aftermath. But it went better than I had prepared myself for, way back when we bought the birds. All the kids were there when we discovered her. Ben promptly took the cage outside and got her out, while the kids and I talked about how she's now flying around in heaven, with a fixed up foot. The girls each mentioned that it's sad that she's gone, but that's all. Scott took it a little harder. He teared up a bit, and said that now she and George wouldn't get to celebrate Valentine's Day together. He drew her a card in church, which said, "May you rest in peace, Martha Washington R-"

So now George is alone, and we have to decide...do we get a Martha II? I really don't know. I guess I'll keep you posted...

Things are better now

We've turned the corner on eating. I guess my pediatrician was right, when she said that it was probably a matter of getting used to the spoon, rather than a dislike of the food.

Now my question is this: what do I do about her little fingers, which find their way into her mouth after every bite? They are making quite a mess! (Although I still think her finger sucking is so cute. Remind me of that after the first orthodontic visit.)

That was fun!

First Pinewood Derby this year--and the results were better than I had expected! Scott and Ben worked hard on that "Blue Whale." I was proud of my boys. :)

(I have to say, though, that as a Cub leader, I was almost hoping that Scott would be the one to come in last. I was fully prepared to console him and talk about how to be a good loser. I just know how some of the other boys didn't get as much time with their dads on their cars, and it makes me wish I could even it all out for everyone. But I can't. And as much as I avoid it at our den meetings, sometimes there has to be a winner and a loser. Blech. I hope the boys were pleased with the individual prizes for the designs of the cars.)

Yummy

"Just try it, baby Tess. Rice cereal is so tasty! Come on, now, just a little bite. Mmmm, open up! I know you'll like it...just open up..."

Leave it to my fifth child to throw me a curve ball. Every other one of my kids had no issues eating "solid" food (as solid as mashed up food is...). They all looked forward to the next bite with open, eager mouths. Not this one. She'd much rather do without the stuff. I've even given her the sure fire winners--bananas and applesauce. She lets one bite in, and gets this funny, funny disgusted face, and won't open up for any more. Sometimes I can wiggle the spoon around and get a bite in, but she'll often spit it out or choke on it.

Time for mom to get creative. I learned that she likes to feed herself. So if I give her a spoon with food on it, she'll compulsively put it into her mouth two or three times before that won't work any more. Then sometimes I'll get her to "drink" the food out of her bowl. Or if I give her Cheerios, she can pick them up and feed herself, and I can jam a bite in while her mouth is open waiting for her hand. I got half a container of food in her today that way. I'm pretty sure we won't be finishing the box of rice cereal, though. That is her absolutely least favorite food. I have to say that I don't really blame her on that one.

Funny girl. I know she's just waiting for me to give her some steak.