Chewy’s Cousins

Hey Chewy!
chewy

“Hold on, Stuffy. Mom is callin’ me.”
hold on

“Yeah, Mom?”
yeah mom
I got a photo from your young cousins. Do you want to see it?

“I have cousins?”
what
Yes. Well, kind of. Remember when Adrian came over to do research? He was the kid who wanted ducks of his own, but wanted to make sure he knew how to raise them right first. So he came over to meet Flapper and family and take notes. He didn’t have to take many notes though, because he already researched a lot on his own.

“I remember him. He’s a good egg.”
good egg

Well he and his family got all their preparations done. Like building a predator-proof pen and getting the right food and such. And then he got two ducklings of his own a few weeks ago. Now they’re all grown up. Take a look at them.
fling and thor
They look a lot like you, don’t you think Chewy?

“Wow. It’s like looking in a mirror. A really beautiful mirror.”
mirror
“They have great names, too. Very superhero ducks.”

I think so too, Chewy.

Congratulations to Adrian and family on their super-cool superhero ducks. Chewy is glad they turned out to be magpie ducks like him. With stripey feet and all!
thor

Quacks,

Tiff, Chewy & the flock

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June 29, 2008|Chewy Magooey|4 Comments

on borrowed time



on borrowed time, originally uploaded by tifotter.

Well, Kozmo is home with us tonight. His biopsy/tissue samples have been sent off to the lab for analysis.

He does have a huge mass. We’ve known that since the last x-rays. It is completely displacing his small intestines and growing up into where his lungs should be as well.

When I dropped him off for surgery this morning, I left a note with him that said “If you can remove the mass without killing him, do it. If you’re not confident it can be removed without killing him, just take the biopsy and close him back up. I want to take home a live duck tonight. I won’t discuss euthanasia today.”

When the surgery vet called, he said “I would have tried to take out the mass, but you wrote on the paper that you wanted a live duck back today, and taking it out could very well kill him. I would have euthanized any other duck in this condition today, but I know you want him home.”

So… Kozmo Kirby is on borrowed time.

We’ll see if this 2nd biopsy shows something that would be worth trying to remove. Even if it does, that surgery could kill him. He hasn’t lost much weight at all in the past two weeks, and yesterday he was having fun swimming in the pool, all on his own.

So for now, Kozmo will just be home. Today’s biopsy was harder for him than the last one. Hopefully he will bounce back from it like he did two weeks ago. If he does, his long-term prognosis isn’t good, but he could be comfortable and hang out with us for awhile. I’ve spoken with several people about when to euthanize a pet duck. I always thought if a duck of mine became immobile I would euthanize them immediately. But Kozmo… he seems happy, even though he can’t walk. He likes splashing in the pool and hanging out with the other ducks. He likes his treats and preening in the sunshine.

So for now, he stays. If Kozmo develops keel sores from lying on the ground all the time, or if he is otherwise in pain from his tumors, that will be his time to go. But as long as he is pain-free and seems happy, he will be with us.

Thanks for all the well-wishes and support. I know Kozzy appreciates them and I do too. I’m sorry the news isn’t better. We’re thankful for the borrowed time.

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June 27, 2008|Kozmo Kirby|6 Comments

It’s for a Good Koz

Hey Kozmo! Look! You got some more mail!
mail

“Yay! Bring it to me?”
yay
Of course buddy. Let me open it first.

Awwww… Kozmo. It’s you!
note
This is so sweet.

“Does it look like me? Let me see it.”
kozzy

It sure does, buddy.
comparison

“Wow, you’re right. It’s a very handsome drawing.”
handsome
Well you’re a handsome guy, Koz.

They also sent you a gift.
muffins
Wow! Homemade vegan muffins with sprouts. Yum!

“Mmmmmm muffins. Thank you!”
Mmmmm
They look delicious, Kozzy. Enjoy!

Thank you SO MUCH to Wayne and Dawn for making and sending Kozmo some very special vegan muffins. He ate a few bites and even shared some with the other ducks. You’re so thoughtful to send them. And it’s just great that they arrived the night before Kozmo goes back in for a re-do of his biopsy.

Kozmo had a big day today, too. I didn’t realize he could get himself around even though his legs don’t work. He pulled himself right into the pool while I was at work, and then pulled himself right back out — all with his beak! That strength is going to serve him well tomorrow in surgery. I guess he really wanted a swim. Thankfully he was able to get himself back out on his own. I never dreamed he could get around like that! Silly duck.

Anyway, thanks and quacks to Wayne & Dawn.

XOXOX

Love,

Kozzy and family

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June 26, 2008|Kozmo Kirby|6 Comments

Nester Napper

“Hmmm”
sneaky
“Nobody’s looking.”

“The coast is clear. I’m going in!”
enter

“Hey it’s pretty nice in here.”
inside

“I think I will build a nest.”
nest

“Mmmrrph. Just… a little… more.”
mmmrrph

“Perfect.”
nap
“And now… we nap.”

HEY FLAPPER!
who me
“Who me? I’m not doing anything!”

I didn’t say you were, Flapper. Hmmm what’re you up to?
nothing
“Me? Nothing!”

“Are we good? I want to take a nap now.”
good
Yep. We’re good, Flapper. Sweet dreams.

“Aaaaah. This is comfy.”
napper

“Zzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzz.”
zzzzzz

Flapper had a great nap, half-in and half-out of the nest. This week he hasn’t been feeling very good, and he went to the veterinarian twice. He had a cloaca issue again, but it’s improving. He is on the mend now, and should be just fine.

Special thanks and “welcome” to Dr. Ford, who gave us some new ideas today. Dr. Ford is the newest member of Flapper’s top-notch team of celebrity duck veterinarians. (Well they don’t describe themselves that way… but Flapper does).

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June 25, 2008|Mr Flapper|4 Comments

Does this make me look fat?



bad angle?, originally uploaded by tifotter.

Oh no, O’Malley. This is a good angle for you. I don’t think you look fat at all. Maybe a little… stout? Solid, certainly. But fat? Nah. :)

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June 23, 2008|O'Malley Peepers|1 Comment

Kozzy in the Grass



Kozzy in the Grass, originally uploaded by tifotter.

Kozzy is doing pretty well. He can’t walk, and there are still questions about his diagnosis, but he’s hanging in there. He may go in for another biopsy next Friday. They’ve offered to re-do it for free, because the samples they took were inconclusive. Kozmo and I are talking it over. We only want to do it again if there’s a chance it can offer him something new. We don’t want to do it just to satisfy anyone’s curiosity. The biopsy is tentatively scheduled for Friday, June 27th.

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June 22, 2008|Kozmo Kirby|4 Comments

Flaptastic!

Today Flapper visited the vet because he had a cloaca infection… again. We were worried that it was something more than just an infection. He has had trouble with this four times now, and also had phallus prolapse. His last infection was 6-months-ago.
duck in a box
He was not too happy to be at the vet, but he is always a good boy there.

This cute bunny was at the vet’s office, too.
bunny
The bunny is 8-years-old. Doesn’t he look great for that age?

Flapper was already on antibiotics all week for the infection, so today it looks 100% fine. The vet believes it’s nothing more than a simple infection with no underlying causes. We got some cream for his heels so they don’t get bumblefoot on the callouses. Other than that, he was pronounced a super-healthy ducky. It’s a big relief!

drive thru
“Can we get some fries now?”

We stopped by the McDonald’s drive-thru to get french fries after Flapper’s vet visit, since he was such a good boy. (Don’t worry… He only ever gets a few fries.)

The end.

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June 21, 2008|Mr Flapper|2 Comments

Hey baby!

The crows brought out their fledgling baby for me to meet. Isn’t s/he cute?
fledgling
Fledgling crows have pink mouth edges and blue eyes. That is how you can tell them from their parents. They also do a lot of “waah waah” crying for food.

I don’t normally feed the crows, but when they have a baby to feed, I help them out a little bit.
egg
“Hmm.”

crack
“Will you crack it open for me?”

thank you
“Thank you!”

nom nom
“Nom nom.”

rolling
“Hey get back here egg! Don’t roll away!”

whew
“Whew!”

good
“Thith ill be good for the baby. I’ll be rigth backth!”

thank you
“Hey. Thank you for helping out. It’s tough being a parent.”

You’re welcome, crows. Best of luck with the new fledgling.

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June 19, 2008|Yard Stuff|2 Comments

Amyloidosis

UPDATE: Well it’s “tomorrow” and I still don’t know much more. But… Kozmo is not in pain, and he seems genuinely content. He only seems irritated for the few seconds a day I pick him up and move him around the yard. I think it’d be great if he had a way to get around a bit on his own. But even without that… for now… he seems happy and pain-free. And that is just fine with me.

wtf

Well Kozmo’s diagnosis is in, but the Doctor is out. I will know more tomorrow. He’s waited two months for the diagnosis and it’s still confusing. Here’s a few links to what he has:

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/Amyloidosis/

http://www.mayoclinic.org/amyloidosis/

“Amyloidosis (pronounced am-i-loy-do’-sis) results when enough amyloid protein builds up in one or more organs to cause the organ to malfunction. The heart, kidneys, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract are most often affected.”

Apparently it’s more common in birds than humans. Who knew? I’ll see if I hear any more information tomorrow. I think there are drugs he can take that will help a little, but the survival rate isn’t too long. His kidney is very large and covered with protein deposits and fluid cysts. They are pressing on his spinal nerve causing his legs to not work.

There you go. That’s what I know. I’m going to move on to building him a cart now.

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June 18, 2008|Kozmo Kirby|6 Comments

Why not?



Why not?, originally uploaded by tifotter.

Kozmo’s results are due back Wednesday afternoon now. Or so I hear. We’ll see.

While we’re all waiting for his test results, I figured I might as well enlist some help. I have a feeling that he’ll be around a little while, but that he may not walk again. So I want some help building him a light-weight cart. I emailed a bunch of professors and mechanical engineering students at the Univ of Washington for help. Let’s see if anyone of them respond, shall we?

(Yes I am slightly koo koo for cocoapuffs, but I keep life interesting for you, don’t I?)

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June 17, 2008|Kozmo Kirby|5 Comments
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