#mousebabies

[jesterka78]

Goodnight from Piratka and Ciapka ❤ The little mice are becoming more and more alert. Today, while I was giving them their medication, Maciek dropped something on the floor, and they instantly turned into two tiny pillars of salt 😅 The scare didn’t last long, but this is the little video we managed to capture 🙂

[bat-and-mouse]

Lil splashed mouse bubs. #mice #cute #miceofinstagram #highcontrastcritters #splashed #mousebabies

[svanhildlovely]

I meant to write a post yesterday about all the cuddle-shenanigans going on as the cold rain pours in Los Angeles; maybe tomorrow. Tonight, I found Amalthea's body. Rigor mortis had worn off, and her delicate body just seemed so fragile, so malleable. Grace in death? And a small mercy: no scent. Just a forlorn little shell of my girl. I hadn't seen her all day, and in the last day or so I've seen her slow down, the pain perhaps catching up. I meant to give her pain meds tonight, and I never did. That is one thing I feel guilty for. I hope her suffering was not too lengthy in the end, or great. °•°•°•° Two nights ago, Amalthea's colony got an extended free-play-time on the floor. I brought out this favorite strawberry house when Cosette (right) refused to come out without it. Amalthea explored a few things nearby, for old time's sake, and then gratefully crawled in beside Cosette to rest. Cosette gained her confidence before long, but at the end of the evening Amalthea was found sleeping in her favorite strawberry house, exhausted. I am so grateful they all got a last playtime together, even if Amalthea wasn't up for much. °•°•°•° After I moved Amalthea's body tonight, I found Cosette sitting near the empty space, looking up at me. After a moment, she sat in the spot where her friend's body had just lain, and gnawed on a wicker ball toy---one of Amalthea's favorite kinds. I have never seen Cosette chew like this before. She was very single-minded in her task, focused for several long minutes. The ball now sits where Amalthea once laid. We all have our own ways of mourning, and paying tribute to our dead. 💔 #AmaltheaMousie #AmaltheasSaga #friendsforever #CosetteMousie #Squintina #mousebabies

[svanhildlovely]

The lovely old lady herself, at one of her favorite pastimes: woodchippering. She still has shown no need for her pain meds. She falters not, exuding grace even in the infirmities of old age and terminality. What breaks my heart most is how much more scraggled her fur has become in her recent decline: Ghirardelli, in all his exuberance for (over)grooming, is doing the best he knows to care for and comfort Amalthea in her dying. And Amalthea, despite this meaning that her fur is being pulled out bit by bit, accepts this loving care of her. Because love. Because Amalthea is "not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle's compass come; [She] alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom." And that, I think, is more bravery than I'll ever have. #AmaltheaMousie #endoflifecare #mousebabies #mousebaby #mousiemama #cancer

[svanhildlovely]

Storytime 2 (The Saga of Amalthea & Her Friends) °•°•°•°• 4. A couple weeks after Freyja's passing, Amalthea moved in with two wee albino babies, Stjarna and Hvíta (#HvítaMousie). Amalthea took to her mothering job right away, loving on those li'l mischievous fuzz-butts quite unconditionally! (Including her great and abiding patience at the antics which involved racing across her sleeping form!) They lived happily for about 2.5 months, all while I was away in Norway and Armenia. But the second day I was back in September, sweet fragile Hvíta passed away. So then it was just Stjarna and Amalthea. °•°•°• Stjarna is an odd little mousie. Some days she loves being loved on, so much so that we started calling her Amalthea's "daughter". But other days she'd squabble with her "mother", wanting to be the Boss of their 2-mouse colony. Amalthea always surrendered quickly; she just wanted peace, cuddles, and co-grooms. But then, even after the dominance was straightened out, Stjarna would sometimes still pester Amalthea (though it's clear they still loved each other very much). (To be continued...) #AmaltheaMousie #StjarnaMousie #mousebabies #mousiecuddles #AmaltheasSaga