Quick Update

I'm trying to think of how to give a brief, but insightful, summary into how life fell apart last week. One of my kids is adopted and has a severe case of Reactive Attachment Disorder along with a handful of other difficulties; also the older he gets, the more bipolar he is becoming. The end of school always throws him off and last week (being the last week of school) sent him into a tizzy that ended up with him triggering some pretty intense PTSD symptoms in me (something that I hadn't dealt with in almost 20 years). My reasons for the PTSD are found HERE in my book "Not Another Sarah."

It was quite the meltdown for both of us. :( In order to pull myself back together again, I put everything "extra" on hold-- including my rescue. I'm down to 5 tortoises, 1 turtle, 9 beardies, 1 snake, and 3 geckos. That's all I can handle right now. ;) These are my babies anyway (with the exception of one sickly sulcata tortoise) and it's easy enough to continue their care.

My amazing hubby is currently at home taking care of the zoo and I am in LA (where I'm from) taking a bit of a breather, trying to build up my emotional stamina again. Today my daughter & parents toured Catalina island. Anywhere near the beach is a blessing for me. I have salt water in my blood, I tell you! I'm already missing home and looking forward to returning.

So enjoy this picture I took and know that I'll be back soon. 

Flame, rescue 134

 Flame is a young translucent beardie who managed to survive a house fire with a dozen other reptiles this week. He had recently been rescued and wasn't in the best shape to begin with. :(  He's very, very skinny.

The stress of an early morning rescue and then being bounced to a couple different homes has taken its toll on him. His beard is black, his belly is a smoke-colored grey, and his eyebrows are flat. 

I gave him a saline injection to help hydrate him and now I'm warming him back up to the right temp. 

He'll get some Critical Care too so he can get extra nutrition and calories. I'm waiting to hear back from my vets on treating smoke inhalation in him and all the other reptiles. 

His belly is very gray. I'll bathe him later and see if I can get him cleaner. 

My friend who took him in last night (as the SECOND rescuer!) bathed him and this is what she got off of him. It breaks my heart that he was covered in soot for 48 hours. No wonder he's a mess. :(