Saturday, December 15, 2007 - Update

I'm Olivia ... who are you?
Is my cannula on straight?

Today, Grandma and Grandpa Sailing came over. Ryan was able to go out and finish his Christmas shopping and my mom helped me get caught up on some things around the house. Now, if only I could get caught up on my sleep. Last night I was up with horrible heartburn. I never get heartburn. . .I think I’ve only had it a few times in my life. Luckily, Ryan had some medication on hand and I finally got to sleep. I’ve been going to sleep around 5 am every day and Ryan takes over after that (so don’t call and expect me to pick up anytime before 10 am.) Sometimes I get about an hour in between 11 pm and 5 am. I am unable to fall asleep quickly and between that, feeding Olivia and pumping. . .I just don’t sleep much. I truly think Olivia would sleep through the night if I let her because she’s usually as tired as I am. Right now, I want to make sure she gets all of the calories that she needs. She was extremely tired all day today and didn’t really fully wake up until her 4 pm feeding. At that time, we were able to play with her quite a bit. What a joy she is in our lives!

Thanks to all of you who have sent us Christmas cards. They mean so much to us. Each year, Ryan and I usually do a lighthearted Christmas collage that depicts the past year. Due to the circumstances of this year, it didn’t seem appropriate to do. Plus, we haven’t had any time. In past years, we’ve had our guinea pigs pulling us in Santa’s sleigh, working in Santa’s workshop and visiting Whoville. Instead, I will dust off an old Christmas poem that I wrote a few years ago. Sometimes I think all of us need a silly break from the realities of life. This was my first attempt at a children’s book. If only I could find an illustrator. . .


‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
by Jodi Glunt

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Each guinea pig was sleeping, as quiet as a mouse.
Their stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that someone would put treats in them there.

The piggies were nestled all snug in their hay
While dreaming of eating red bell peppers all day.
And Bailey atop his house and I, in my pigloo
Thought the night was no different than others we’d been through.

When out in the kitchen there arose such a clatter
We all started wheeking wondering what was the matter.
From out of the pigloo, I peeked (just in case)
And saw Exodia with a confused look on his face.

The light of the kitchen glowed into the room
With a bang and a bong and a creak and a boom.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a jolly old man with veggies coming near.

He wasn’t our owner, it was too early for that.
I knew it was Santa in his red and white hat.
He needed our help and he enticed us with carrots.
With him were rats, bunnies and ferrets.

“Now Bailey! Penelope! Now Exodia and Morgan!
I won’t forget Taryn, Sephs, Harrison and Kirsten!
My reindeer are sick, now it’s up to you all
The cats and the dogs wouldn’t answer the call.”

We were lead out of our pens and fed a good treat
The treat made us fly (I thought that was neat)
So, up the rooftops we flew without wings
And saw all kinds of new, interesting things.

We flew around the world delivering toys
To all little girls and all little boys.
As cool as it was, I thought about home
And cuddles and snuggles and the pen where we roam.

There were thousands of piggies, you wouldn’t believe!
About every kind that you could conceive.
Abyssinians, Peruvians, and Agouti
After awhile it got kind of rowdy!

All of us were given a job based on ability
Quickness, intelligence, strength and agility.
I got to arrange the gifts under the tree
Because if you want tidiness, call Penelope.

Taryn and Harrison kept a lookout, Kirsten kept all in line
Persephone and Morgan were just being divine
Bailey was there if we needed a way out
And Exodia made sure we stayed on the right route.

Soon we were finished, we had done such a good deed.
(Except for on Santa’s lap, some of us peed.)
He took each of us home and put us in our cages
With spinach and kale and hay as our wages.

Our owners woke up to find us just as we were
With no idea what we did, that’s for sure.
For rodents don’t get a whole lot of respect
That’s okay. .it’s something we’ve come to expect.

But, we love and we cuddle and we do tons of cute things
We even met a piggy that dances and sings!!
Our owners they love us and we love them too
Saving Christmas this year, we just had to do.

So, when you open your presents this year, keep in mind
That some of us wanted to be left behind.
A family, for some, seemed too good to be true
You might get a new pet. . . Merry Christmas to you.