A Day in the Life of Our Red Foot Tortoises

It has been a long time!

2010-06-16T20:00:00.004-04:00

Hello Again!!

I know that it has been months since I posted anything about the tortoises. My only excuse is an insanely crazy life.

Rosie, Ginger and Cecil are doing very well. This winter they were very still and mostly just slept and ate. However since it has warmed up and they are outside they are more active than I have ever seen them. Rosie is especially personable and always comes out to see me when I get home from work. Cecil is still the most aggressive of the three always trying to steal someones food. Ginger is the timid laid back one of the bunch.

As you can see in the pictures they have grown some. We are going to move them to a larger tortoise table in the next week or so and they will have plenty of room to groove.

Enjoy!

We're Inside Today!

2009-11-22T11:45:00.002-05:00

It's getting colder so the babies have to spend more and more time indoors under their lamp. There are some days when they can be outdoors for a few hours in the afternoon. I have noticed that when they are indoors they are more active and hang out on top of the moss instead of staying buried all day. All three are doing very well, they have a great appetite and are getting very curious of their surroundings.

Enjoy!

Of course Cecil is still sleeping. He is always the last to get up and the last to finish eating!

Ginger

Rosie

Time To Eat!!

2009-10-13T15:09:00.000-04:00

Come on mom and give us our lunch, we would come out an get it if we could!

I smell something new on the menu, is that kiwi?

I'm coming!!

Hey guys don't eat without me!

Breakfast in the afternoon!

2009-10-01T12:19:00.000-04:00

I had some hungry hungry hippos this afternoon. I have started feeding them around 11:00am because it is too chilly in the mornings. All three of them have been more active lately so we have enjoyed watching them explore their habitat.

Rosie was very persistant with this mushroom and she was able to eat it all!

Ginger is diving right in...

Cecil is trying to decide what he wants first!

Our Outing to Crooked River State Park

2009-09-23T00:27:00.004-04:00

Peyton took these pictures today at Crooked River State Park today. I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do!

"the view is fabulous from here"

"wait Peyton, this is my better side"

Ginger is just strolling along checking out the scenery!

"I know I can fit, I haven't grown that much"

"I know I can make it over this tiny twig..I think I can, I think I can"

Peyton's Pictures and First Blog Post!

2009-09-21T20:02:00.011-04:00

Peyton took all of these pictures. We let the babies walk in the grass and have some mushrooms. I think Peyton has found his calling, these pictures are better than any that I have taken, GO PEYTON! This was the first time that the babies were outside in the grass. They had so much exploring something new. Enjoy!

Learning

2009-09-15T15:02:00.002-04:00

A Learning Process

I just read my blog from the beginning and I realized how much that have learned through this process. I now know that Rosie, Ginger and Cecil do not need an afternoon snack. If they are out and awake I can offer them some mushroom or squash but only if they are already awake. They do not necessarily have to get up at 7:30am for breakfast, all three of them actually like to sleep in until round 9:00ish. I bring them outside around 8:30 and mist their pen, then I go inside and fix their breakfast and by the time I come back outside they are all out and waiting for me to give them their bath. They seem much more relaxed this way, when they can get up on their own without me waking them up. I love to cuddle with them and rub their shell and head but only on their time and schedule. I have noticed they come out more now and they enjoy their time with me. I have read that red foot tortoises have distinct personalities and they love their humans...this is absolutely true (I didn't believe it at first either but they do)!

Everyday I feed them 3 different greens, mushrooms, oputina and squash or zucchini, twice a week they get papaya or mango and one day a week they get a small amount of tomato, on the days they don't get fruit or tomato they have carrots. I have been petrified to give them tomato since our respiratory scare but they LOVE tomato so they get a small amount occasionally. I used to give them fruit and/or tomato every other day and I quickly realized this was way too much. I have also learned a lot about their pen. When Rosie, Ginger and Cecil first came to me I didn't realize I had to "plant" the greens in their pen therefore, it was very sparse. Gabby was gracious enough to give us plenty of seeds so we can plant their food on our own. This is safer as it is organic and cheaper! I planted some seeds and then transplanted them into their pen and now they have coleus, hosta, nasturtium and dandelion in their pen. They all like to bury and sleep under the plants. I'm sure that there is a lot more for me to learn and I am ready for the challenge. Enjoy!!

Brandee's Graduation Party!

2009-09-14T13:35:00.000-04:00

I thought that I would share this photo with all of my friends on blogger. My best friend Brandee(third from the left) graduated with her Masters Degree in Education a few weeks ago and I went to see her this weekend to celebrate with her and her family. Brandee and I have been best friends for over 20 years and her family is my family, we are so proud of her!

Melissa Winters (Brandee's sister), Me, Brandee, Jenna Rae (Brandee's Aunt)

Loving Life!

2009-09-14T12:10:00.004-04:00

Here are some random pictures of the babies, Brent and Peyton. They are growing so fast and we are enjoying them very much. I went away for the weekend and I could not stop talking about the babies and calling Brent to check on them. It was the first time that I left them alone and I am almost embarrassed to say that I was very very worried about the the entire time I was gone. I gave Brent very detailed and explicit directions on how to care for them in my absence and I am proud to say he took excellent care of them.

"Wait, this is my good side"

Just a good picture I had to put it in twice (I messed up and cant figure out how to take it off, lol).
"Heller"

"I love to cuddle"

Right there Peyton that's the perfect spot!

Home Sweet Home

Hmmm...Where is she going?

Snack Time For Rosie

2009-09-05T17:19:00.002-04:00

Yesterday afternoon Brent and I were sitting by the pool and enjoying the wonderful weather of south Georgia. I went up to check on the babies and Rosie was sun bathing, she was enjoying the early fall afternoon also. I went inside and got her a few mushrooms to have for a snack. It is almost as if she knew I was coming back with a treat for her because she was waiting by the side of her pen looking up to see me. I brought her over to our table and gave her an afternoon treat.....

I see it, I see it, watch out mushroom here I come....

Almost there....

Got it! These things move all over the table, but never fear I used my stealth like abilities to grab it...

With just a little bit of persistence I got my mushroom, whew!

Growing.....

2009-09-02T08:50:00.002-04:00

So last night while lying in bed trying desperately to go to sleep I had a fabulous idea, at the beginning of each month I'm going to post their growth. I know when they are all grown up it will be awesome to see how much they grew each month. I didn't realize how hard it would be to take a picture of them next to a ruler, no one wanted to be still. I'm sure with time I will get better at taking the pictures while they are in motion. I apologize the picture of Rosie's pretty face is a bit blurry, I'm still figuring out this camera as I was not blessed with the technology gene. I hope that you will enjoy watching them grow as I am.

Cecil wouldn't stop moving

Cecil with food all over his face

We are going back to bed, See ya!

Rosie

Rosie enjoyed her breakfast, she is going to save some for later

Ginger

Ginger has a little bit of food on her face, she is a polite eater (believe that if you want to)

Fighting Over Food!

2009-08-30T15:29:00.007-04:00

Mine, Mine, Mine!!

Cecil is once again the lone ranger...the last one eating

This morning the babies were in rare form. None of them wanted to soak in the bath at all and they were eager to get to their breakfast. Today they had mixed greens, mushroom, zucchini, carrots and optunia, nothing new was on their plate. They were actually taking the food out of each others mouths. You can see in the picture how close they are to one another, they got into those positions by themselves.

Chomp Chomp!

I saw it first!! Back up off my carrot...

We are starving and we can't get to the food fast enough!!

Its my Oputina!

Sleepy Time...

2009-08-27T17:19:00.001-04:00

Its was raining this morning when it was time for Rosie, Ginger and Cecil to eat breakfast so they ate inside this morning. They had to stay inside all day today because of the rain so I have their pen under a UVB lamp. After they were done eating I put them back into their pen and they each stayed above the moss for a bit. Cecil buried himself in the moss first, he was probably exhausted from eating so much this morning (he is always the last to finish eating). Rosie and Ginger sat on top of the moss all day basking in the "sun". They seem to be more active when they are under the UVB lamp rather than being outside. I love to watch them throughout the day when they are out of the moss because most of the time they sleep all day and all night.

Ginger

Cecil

Have a Happy and Blessed Day :)

This one didn't make it the last post.

2009-08-25T17:24:00.000-04:00

YUM!!!

Feeling Better!!

2009-08-25T17:21:00.001-04:00

It's official, the crisis is finally over. I felt much better yesterday but was still a bit cautious. However, today they all got up and were alert with their heads up and didn't seem a bit groggy. When I put them next to their breakfast they ate very well and ate almost all of their food! Rosie, Ginger and Cecil are definitely back to their normal selves and that is a blessing from God! I never in a million years thought that I would get so attached to three little tortoises but it has happened and I will do everything in my power to keep them healthy. I must give an enormous thank you to Gabby who walked me through this frightening ordeal. I have learned so much because of this and I guess as is most everything in life...it is ALL a learning experience!

Rosie in her bath

Ginger in her bath

Cecil just chilling out

Eating Breakfast!!

They Are Going To Be Alright!

2009-08-24T15:47:00.000-04:00

After having extensive and lengthy email conversations with Gabby we have decided that they had the bubbles because they ate too much tomato. You see, tomato is mostly water and tortoises breathe while they eat, thus causing the bubbles coming out of their mouth. This has not happened since, their eyes are clear (not cloudy and they never were), they do not and have not had a "runny nose", Ginger has been active most of the day and they all three ate this morning as well as pooped and peed. These are picture I took of Ginger this morning. Praise God that they are all going to be alright!!

Update On My Sick Babies.....

2009-08-24T09:06:00.001-04:00

When I woke up this morning I had such anxiety over getting the babies up and ready for breafast. I was so afraid that they had gotten worse during the night. Ginger (at the bottom of the pic) and Cecil (in the middle) woke easily, had their bath and began eating right away, which is a great sign however they didn't eat with the same excitment as they usually do. Rosie (top) was buried deep in the coir and she wouldn't come out of her shell, this has never happened before. She continued to stay in her shell through bathtime and after her bath I put her next to their food. Rosie finally came out of her shell and began to eat. This morning they had only greens with their calcium powder, no fruits, tomatoes or veggies. I'm very happy and relieved that they did eat, their eyes are clear (not cloudy) and they did not have a runny nose or bubbles coming out of their mouth. Please continue to pray for them. We have an appointment with the vet at 2:00 and I will let you all know more when we get back home. Thank you for all of your prayers and support!

My Babies......

2009-08-23T21:46:00.000-04:00

The babies may be sick so I need you all to say a prayer. After they ate a treat today all three of them had bubbles coming out of their mouth. This is indicitive of a respritory infection which could kill them in a matter of days. They are going to the doctor tomorrow and they will be put on injectable antibiotics. There is a slight chance this happened because they ate tomatos which are full of water. I'm keeping a close eye on them and praying that they will be alright. I never thought I would get so intensly attached to these little guys but it has happened and now I am scared. Please just say a prayer for them. Thank you!

Bad Tomatos!!

They will NEVER have another tomato!

Getting Into A Routine

2009-08-18T09:49:00.001-04:00

Everyone is adjusting nicely and getting into a routine. When I get up at 7:00 Shai (my shih tzu) and I go for our morning walk, when we get home its time to take the babies outside and get them up. Then they get a warm bath, eat breakfast and quickle fall abck asleep. Around 3:00 after Peyton gets home from school they get another quick warm bath and a snack. We lay a blanket on the pool deck and give them their treat. Roesie, Ginger, Cecil, Peyton and I enjoy this time very much as it gives us a chance to get more aquainted and used to each other.

These pictures are from their breakfast yesterday morning except the last one of Rosie biting Peyton, she didnt hurt him but he did have her mango in the other hand!

OUCH!!

Our Second Time Eating Today

2009-08-14T18:33:00.004-04:00

I planted a hosta, cilantro and parsley

Ginger loves mango, look how she holds it with her feet:)

Rosie is deciding if she wants more

MMM....I love tomatoes!

It will fit in my mouth.......

Rosie, Ginger and Cecil are doing very well today. I was a bit concerned this morning because none of them ate very well. However this afternoon I gave them another bath and fed them the rest of their breakfast and they ate very well. I reconfigured their habitat and planted a hosta and some more cilantro and parsley. I put the plants on one side and I took everything else out, as it was not surviving well, and put a thicker layer of moss on the other side. I must admit that I did not "plant" the greens in the first habitat, I picked them off the host bush and placed them in there. I quickly realized that this didn't work and put extra coir in the bottom of the habitat and actually planted the hosta and herbs in the dirt.....o.k. I was honest about this so don't laugh!!!

This is a learning experience for all four of us (Rosie, Ginger, Cecil and myself), lol! I was so excited today when I started talking Rosie came out of the moss and looked at me so I picked her up and she let me rub her head and neck without being afraid and putting her head back in her shell. I think they are getting used to their new home and we are enjoying the process and loving them being here.

The First Day!

2009-08-13T14:54:00.002-04:00

I was able to leave the babies outside from the time they arrived until now (3:00 pm) its thundering and about to rain. While they were outside I was careful to mist them every hour to make sure the humidity was high for them. They have been asleep since they ate this morning, if you look in their habitat you would think it was empty as all of them are buried in the moss.

Peyton got home from school and Brent and I were able to show him the tortoises, I cant tell you how excited he is to have them. He cant hardly concentrate on his homework thankfully he only has a little bit and will be done in a few minutes.

Stay tuned.......

Rosie, Ginger and Cecil Are Here!!!!

2009-08-13T08:58:00.005-04:00

Ginger is finding a cozy spot to rest with a full belly
Rosie is headed toward to coleus

They ate like they were starving

Rosie and Cecil

YUM!

Ginger on her tippy toes

Cecil is still eating after Rosie and Ginger were done

Bath time, Rosie couldn't get out fast enough. She must have known her food was right next to her.

Rosie, Cecil and Ginger arrived safely around 10:00am. All three ate a lot and for about 40 minutes. Cecil was eating for about 10 minutes after the girls were done. Rosie was the first one done with her breakfast and after looking around a bit she found her spot under a coleus plant. Gabby shared with me that is where Rosie slept at her home as well. Rosie was very intrested in exploring her habitat and Ginger seemed a little moe timid. Cecil ate and then quickly went to sleep not even moving from the place I sat him in his habitat. We are so excited to add these tortoises to our family and I'm sure this will be a learning process for all of us. I will keep you posted on their progress and ours in learning to care for them. Im sure we will have a lot of adventures to share!

I'm Up And Waiting For The Babies

2009-08-13T07:47:00.001-04:00

I have been reading Gabbys blog as she is tracking the babies and keeping us updated as to where they are. It looks like they have arrived in Jacksonville already. Gabby set it up with UPS for them to be delivered between 8:00am and 10:00am. I really hope they are on time.

We have a warm bath and a delicious breakfast waiting for them when they arrive!

The Babies Are On Their Way....

2009-08-12T21:06:00.003-04:00

Gabby shared with me that the babies were picked up by UPS around 6:00pm our time. Please say a prayer for each of them that they arrive safely to our home. It is scary to think about how people handle packages not even knowing what is inside. Gabby did a fabulous job noting on the box that it was fragile and to not turn it upside down but I am asking for you to say a prayer that they arrive in Saint Marys healthy tomorrow morning.

I can not believe how incredibly attached I have become to each of them.

Thank you....

Pictures Of The Babies From This Morning!

2009-08-12T13:21:00.005-04:00

Look at that precious face, Rosie is really hungry

Ginger is going to her hiding spot to rest with a full belly

Ginger is munching away on a healthy breakfast

Cecil eating his breakfast...Yummy carrots

Cecil going to bury himself in the moss after breakfast

Gabby posted these pictures of Rosie, Ginger and Cecils last day with her. We feel so blessed that she chose us as the best family for these sweet babies.

Thanks Again Gabby!!!

The New Tortoise Habitat

2009-08-12T10:38:00.005-04:00

Peyton getting the coconut brick out of the water
The finished habitat. We put lost of spangnum moss so they can bury and hide in it.

There is coleus, basil, cilantro and petunia in there, yum!

The cuttlebone is going to a good source of calcium for the growing babies.

Peyton and I worked very hard to make the habitat comfortable for the babies. We hope they will like it!

Pictures of Rosie Ginger and Cecil!!

2009-08-11T11:14:00.006-04:00

Rosie Hatching
Another hatching egg

Cecils yolk sack

Cecil just after he hatched! You dont get much cuter than this.....

Rosie relaxing while she eats..."It too early but Im really hungry"

Cecil standing on his tippy toes so he can reach his favorite foods!

Rosie

Ginger

Cecil right after he hatched..."Hello World"

Cecil

Awww......

2009-08-11T11:08:00.005-04:00

Bath Time! Yummy Breakfast

These are some pictures that Gaby took of the babies from the day they fiest hatched through today. Rosie, Ginger and Cecil will be here on Thursday and we can't wait! As you soon notice these guys are the most adorable, beautiful and smartest red foot toroises on the planet....Im not bias or anything!

The Heartbreak

2009-08-10T19:20:00.003-04:00

I just read Gabrieles blog and it saddened me to know how sad she will be when Rosie, Ginger and Cecil (Bobby) leave her. However it also makes me feel extremely blessed to know that all three of them have had an amazing life and have been extremely well cared for from the moment they first hatched.

Gabriele is an amazing mother to her beloved tortoises and we are honored to have her babies come live with us. If you would like to see our babies from the first hatching through their shipping to south Georgia please visit http://www.turtlegabys-tortoises.blogspot.com/.

Again Gabby thank you for this amazing opportunity and you will always know how Rosie, Ginger and Cecil (Bobby)are doing!

We Have an Arrival Date!

2009-08-10T11:53:00.000-04:00

Rosie, Ginger and Cecil are set to arrive on Thursday morning! Peyton and I are going to be very busy this evening preparing their habitat. We will post some pictures once it is complete. Peyton doesn't know the babies will be here on Thursday he thinks the date is still up in the air due to the weather....he will be thrilled with the surprise. He asks us every single day about them, if we got approved and when they will be here.

I will keep you posted.......

Testing Complete!!!

2009-08-09T19:28:00.000-04:00

O.K., I have figured this out and I am ready to start blogging. YEAH, I have gratuated to full time blogger. Those of you who know me will be very very proud that I figured this out all on my own!!

Testing....

2009-08-09T19:25:00.000-04:00

I am learning how this whole blogging thing works. This is a test run to see if I can successfully post a picture and I hope it works. So to be official and all....testing 1,2,3...testing 1,2,3!

The Adoption is Final!

2009-08-09T18:27:00.003-04:00

We have been blessed to have been approved to adopt three baby red foot tortoises! We have researched many many different types of tortoises and the red foot is a perfect fit for our family. We were so fortunate to have found someone who wanted to adopt out her babies to ensure that they went to a good committed home. She could have sold them for 100.00 to 150.00 a piece but instead she cares enough about them to be involved in hand picking the families that her babies went to.

We absolutely cant wait until their arrival. We are waiting on the appropriate temprature in which to ship them as we do not want them to get over heated. Once they have arrived safely we will post pictures and keep everyone apprised of their progress.

We will let you all know when Rosie, Ginger and Cecil are safely in their new home!!!