Cavy Chronicle 6

The Guinea Pig will stay on the bed while I change his cage (I do it just because it's up on the dresser, too high for big sister to reach comfortably. She is more than willing to be responsible for his care!). He will wait quite a while before relieving himself.  Maybe he knows where the toilet isn't?

Cavy Chronicle 4

Tonight when we brought the guinea pig into the bathroom for his outing, he scurried around the room, making that cute  little "chut" sound, meaning he was exploring.  Little sister had her turn to hold him on her lap, but he quickly escaped and explored the pile of wood blocks she was building for him. Later I herded him onto big sister's lap where he happily settled in and enjoyed a piece of green pepper.  He readily purrs for big sis, stretching out his neck to be scratched.

Cavy Chronicle 3

Little sister loved the guinea pig somewhat too exuberantly and the next time we tried to take him out of his cage, he adamantly refused, kicking and nipping. Li'l sis was put on restriction for a few days until he came to tolerate handling again. Tonight she built an obstacle course for him on the bathroom floor with a carrot in the middle. She was busy enough to resist the urge to grab him around the middle. He was confident enough to climb around the blocks and find the carrot. :)

Cavy Chronicle 1

What a nice dynamic this pet has made. Both girls and I were somehow restful after a session with him  on the bathroom floor. Our minds were exercised and we all enjoy the petting. He learned quickly which hands to trust. Rather than chasing him around the bedroom and under the bed, which only serves to irritate everyone, we all sit calmly (the 3-year-old not so calmly) on the floor observing and maximizing the positive interactions. This is habit training. Note to self: maximize on positive interactions, not nagging...

After one week, our piggy is vocalizing for us. He squealed when he received a treat and later, during exercise time in the bathroom (great set up!), he purred when stroked under his chin. He knows his main caregiver.  :) Little sister certainly isn't trusted as well as big sis. He likes to walk circles around the room and explore any new boxes, tunnels, paper, etc, on the floor. His favorite hiding spot is behind the toilet, so we keep newspaper there to catch most of the "mess." I'd like to think he gets the idea and goes there when he needs to. Friends were here yesterday for a sleepover. He did well as the object of so much attention.

Whatta Trip - "fur" real!

My soon-to-be 8-year-old asked for a guinea pig. Since our schedule isn't dog-friendly, it's the next best thing.  We scoured the internet for a discounted pet. No breeders listed in our state. No enthusiast group. But hurray, Craigslist! Yesterday: A listing nearby! A deal nearly closed! But alas, the seller called to apologize that someone had sold it already.
Another C-listing, but one hour's drive each way. Hmmmmm....After checking prices at the pet store, and since the piggy was soooo pretty and came with all supplies, I agreed. Baruch Hashem. The cage j.u.s.t. e.x.a.c.t.l.y. fit into the passenger seat.  The trip was smooth and the pig tolerated it and the subsequent affection quite well.  He seems content. Now he can have a few quiet days before the B-day slumber party.

But tomorrow is a work day. After a full week at home with a sick child, (and husband. I will not get sick. I will not get sick...) we all have to get up early tomorrow. I was in bed but my mind was busy with the events of the evening, so here I sit blogging.

Little sister had fallen asleep on the way home, but couldn't miss the activity upon our arrival with our new furry friend. She was tired but wound up. She "baby-sat" while big sis and I cleaned the cage, not - so - gently encouraging it to drink and trying to ruffle its fur and pick it up so that it jumped around in its holding pen.  Daddy came in for bedtime prayers (what bedtime?) and she turned around to read a book, so she got a time out. Poor piggy is welcomed home by a screaming tired preschooler.

"Get your jammies on"(Know that song? by the group Go Fish)
-But I haven't had a bedtime snack.
ARRRRGH!
-Chocolate milk. 
She takes the milk and syrup from the fridge while I try to call the sitter and tidy the kitchen. When I look back, she's poured waaaay too much syrup. While talking on the phone, I moderate the milk-to-syrup ratio. 
I wash a few dishes, repackage dinner for the fridge, then she cries loudly. She was in the drawer for gum (GUM? NOW?!) and pinched her finger.  I think she wanted to be sure there was a package in the bag for tomorrow. Good thinking, poor execution.

Later we go to brush her teeth and she realizes she hasn't even finished her milk. More crying. I stick a toothbrush into a crying mouth and then we can finally cuddle in bed for a SHORT book (Mr.Messy :) and all is well. I hear big sister talking her into lying in bed by herself. A short time later, I am amazed to see two still bodies in two beds. I go in for a kiss and jinx it.  Little sister follows me in to my bedroom and It's too late to argue tonight. (But not too late to write it down for the world to see?)