Sobbing out my Goodbye

 I tried to be brave as I dropped off Midnight. I cried on the way there. I cried as I tried to explain why you can see jaw bone exposed on his mouth. I managed to get out the door before I started ugly sobbing. I sobbed all the way to my appointment at my chiropractor's office. 

I'm about to go in and expect to cry more during my appointment. Especially if they ask how I am, 

I'm broken hearted about an iguana that ripped part of my cheek open. I'm feeling like a failure to him. I'm sad he's going from me. I mourn my dreams for him being my iguana pet on a leash. I mourn for Turbo and Sancho too. 

Go with God, sweet Midnight. 

Careful there, Pal!

The other day I was working at my computer when I heard things crashing around in the sink. I immediately assumed it was my youngest who had just gotten home from school. 

"Careful there, Pal! Don't dump your plates in the sink!"

When there was no reply, I turned around to see no one at the sink. Upon a closer look, I found my fox statue in the sink and a juvenile iguana sliding off the window ledge. 

Ah ha. 

Instead of blaming messes on someone else, my kids can now point their finger at Midnight. He's like a demon toddler bent on exploring and destroying! ;) 

Terrible Toddler Stage

Midnight is like a two year old going through a difficult stage! He's starting to drive me crazy!! 

He keeps knocking over things and harassing Smaug and throwing his food on the ground and pooping on the newly cleaned floor. 

He's all over too!!! Upstairs then down then up. He's exhausting! 

Iguanas are NOT a good starter pet. I've felt for a long time that they shouldn't be sold in stores. Today's behavior just reminds me that iguanas are a handful! 

Sleepy Time

Midnight--

Drake--

Teddy-- 

A Visitor

I was sitting on my couch reading a book on my library's OverDrive app when Midnight came over to visit. 

He leaped from his cage to the back of the rocking chair to the ottoman to the couch. (His cage is behind the giraffe) 

He gave us lots of kisses as he explored the couch. 

Sure, he could go around easier, but why would he?! ;) 

He climbed over me to get down and poop on the floor behind me. Sancho always pooped behind the door. It's very nice. We put extra wax on the wood to make it poop proof. 

Then he climbed back on the couch and over me. 

Midnight went back to his cage and crawled up the blinds. Later I found him in the tree. 

We brought the tree inside so Midnight would climb the tree instead of the blinds. 

Junie - Before & After

I found some of the first pics I took of Junie and matched them with the most recent pics I took of him. 

                   June 2015 

                   August 2016

                     June 2015

                    August 2016

I hadn't realized how much more "manly" he's gotten. He was pretty much a juvenile male when I got him. Now he's a man iguana with attitude and power. 

In June of 2015, Junie was left behind after a murder-suicide. He was given to a "rescue" (insert eye rolling) who kept him in a plastic crate for 2 weeks. When my friend rescued him from the "rescuer," she was told that Junie was angry because he had watched his whole family die. 

Um.... No. It's because you're a moron who shoved him in a plastic crate. 

I didn't want Junie, but I knew he'd die if he stayed in the crate with the other "rescuer."

Midnight at the Vet

At some point in the last few weeks, Midnight broke one of his toes and it started to swell. This morning I took him to the vet. 

He let me put on his harness without any problems. Then he road on my shoulder as I drove. I took this pic as I was stopped at a red light. 

He sat patiently while we waited for the vet. 

Dr Folland agreed the easiest thing to do was to snip off the toe. So we did. 

I didn't take a single pic of his toe before or of the procedure or even after!! I only took pics of him snuggling with me. ;) 

During the procedure, he didn't fight or fuss. He stayed perfectly still. It was amazing! Midnight was back to being a sweetheart. I loved it. 

We are back home now and he's sunning himself in the window. What a good boy! 

Midnight's Bedtime Stash

I've spent all week convincing Midnight he did NOT need to sleep like this: 

Today he decided to rearrange his window area so he's more comfortable at night. 

He pushed all of his bedding down onto the window ledge and smooshed it into the shape of a body lounger chair. 

He's quite comfy there now with his head slightly raised. 

Spoiled Iggy. 

Bath Night

Midnight's first bath here. He's not thrilled. 

Hermy- 

Otis-- 

Georgie & Baby Foot-- 

I don't have time to bathe the beardies, but at least the torts are soaked. 

Midnight

Our "Honeymoon" period ended. Midnight has grown comfortable here and shows me an AT-TI-TUDE! 

Mostly I laugh at him and pet his head to make him close his eyes in bliss. 

And a little while later, he will bob his head at me and try to be dominant. Silly boy! I don't submit to iguanas! 

At night, he thinks he should sleep like Spider-Man. 

I let him cool down and then I put him back under his heat lamp. 

Where do I see myself in a Year?

Ha ha ha! This will be me with Junie and/or Midnight! 

Midnight Snuggles

Midnight has been testing the wings of his independence for the past 2 weeks. And I'm afraid to say that he's been a brat! 

My teen son made him mad and Midnight chomped him. :( 

I had to take away some of his independence and make him spend more time in his cage. He hates it! 

Unfortunately, he rubbed the scabs and newly formed skin off his mouth. 

He spent the last two days in his age while my family and I went on an End of Summer trip to the lake. He was much nicer when I returned. 

It's SO hard! I hate locking him up, but I can't have a tyrannical iguana roaming around and biting & whipping. I'm hoping that he'll settle in and be less defensive. If he stays grumpy, I'm going to have to rehome him and/or keep him locked up all the time. 

At least tonight, he let me love him when I put him to bed. 

Odd Ball Sleeping

Tonight I found Midnight sleeping with his head hanging over the edge of his water bowl. 

Then I found Akime holding on with one foot and one hand. I took a pic and then moved her. Boy! She was ticked off at me! 

Reptiles sleep weirdly sometimes. 

Bratty Cutie Junie

Junie has been the biggest BRAT ever!!! Even looking at him makes him angry. But he's super cute-- for an iguana. 

That's him wanting to tail whip me. 

But he's still adorable. 

Snuggle Time

I read a book on my phone while holding Midnight. I have missed snuggling with iguanas since Turbo died. 

Ghetto Cage

I do not have the heart to put Midnight in a tank. I have several and just can't do it. I don't have the money currently to buy him the kind of cage I want for him and I don't have a lot of time to build something into an entertainment unit. 

Today I built Midnight a ghetto cage with parts of Guinea pig cages and metal crate squares and a lot of zip ties. 

It's not very pretty but it will help contain Midnight during the times I can't let him free roam. 

This is it all put together: 

Ghetto, but workable. For now. I had him sleep in a Guinea pig cage last night to be safe. I'm waiting until just before lights out to put him in. 

Until then, I'm rocking him. 

I once told Dr Folland that I had rocked Turbo to sleep because he was upset. My vet looked at me and said teasingly, "You know, sometimes I really worry about you!" 

I laughed. "Only sometimes? I must be getting better!"