All you needs a bun... 🐇

Five months ago we welcomed Thumper into our family, and it has been one of the BEST decisions!

  I'll be the first to admit we didn't know much about rabbits. I joined a Pet Rabbit Advice group on facebook and boy did I learn ALOT! Ive been asked so many questions about him so I decided to share. Again I'm only five months in and still have alot to learn so I'm no expert and am in no way actting like I know it all.

First off the cage. Rabbits need room. The little small cages ( don't feel bad we started out with one also) they don't cut it. We kept his little small cage so that we can take him places if we need to, but we bought a x-pen to give our boy some room.

 The sheet we keep pulled over the top, at night and when were not home because our guy realized he could jump over.  The small area in the back was our original cage, the x-pen attaches to it. So we can easily unattach it if we ever needed to.

 You can see in the corner there how it attaches. 

Rabbits love hiding places so I made him a hiding spot out of a cardboard box. The red bowl we keep his water in. Rabbits can drink out of the ones that attach to the cage ( he started out with one of those also) however they prefer drinking out of a bowl because its just easier.

Rabbits LOVE to chew. Thats because their teeth never stop growing so they need to file them down. We give Thumper lots of toys for chewing. He LOVES chew toys. Chewing is probably the number one reason people are turned off about having a rabbit as a pet. I totally understand. Thumper LOVES cords, and books. He cannot be out without supervision, or a bunny proof area. We let him out daily in our livingroom, all cords are blocked so he cannot get to them, and we have a baby gate to keep him in the livingroom where we can keep an eye on him. Hes a good rabbit, but its their instincts to chew.  So this is a clear negative about them, and I 100% understand why it deters people from even considering a bunny.

 However I promise you your missing out. 😉 Rooms can easy by bunny proofed by keeping cords up high or blocking your bunny from getting to them.

  Another thing that deters people is the mess. I mean aren't they horribly messy and stinky. Your whole house is gonna smell right. WRONG! Rabbits do not like to be dirty, they groom themselves much like cats. Thumper himself doesn't stink.

What about using the bathroom?? Don't they just go everywhere. What a nightmare! Most rabbits can be easily litter trained. While I cant speak for every rabbit, I can tell you our experience with Thumper. He used the litter box from day one. We kept several litterboxes in various areas in the beginning. We quickly learned his favorite spots and kept them in those areas. Eventually we took away litterboxes until we left only two. One in his cage and one in the livingroom. You can use different things in their litterboxes, but the one must have is hay. They NEED hay. The hay will also help with training. When they eat hay they poop. So if there is hay in the litter box and they use the bathroom as they eat it, they quickly realize oh this is where I use the bathroom. Some people only put hay in their litterboxes we have a different method.

  How we do the litter box is strictly what works for us so this is MY OPINION... First we put a layer of regular cat litter. Some will say this is bad, we have never had a issue. Thats got alot to do with Thumper himself so proceed with caution if you try litter. Next I put a layer of sawdust/wood shavings. I do this for a couple reasons. Number one it keeps litter from sticking to his feet. I personally would rather clean up shavings, then litter. Shavings you can see, litter is harder to see. Also the shavings mask the smell. One thing I had no clue about, but is my favorite thing about Thumper is his poop DOESN'T HAVE A SMELL. I know your not believing me at all right now, but I promise its true. His poop has absolutely no smell. Pee is a different story. Litter helps soak it up, the shavings then mask the smell. On top of the shavings I put his hay. You can get a hay feeder to hang over the litterbox, we did for awhile. However we quickly realized he was mostly knocking it out into the litter box and eating it from there anyway, and for us we find its just easier to put it in the litter box and alot less messy that way.

  This is our litterbox.I cleaned it every couple days, more often if needed, but normally every few days is sufficent.  We chose to get a bigger one because hes growing so so fast. The purple tray is actually the very first cage we got. We took the top off and keep his litter box in it to help catch what he sometimes knocks out when he hops out. You'll also notice his food there. We keep his food in that container because it attaches to the cage and he cannot knock it off. Keeping it in the purple tray helps keep what he knocks out contained. This setup works well for us. We feed Thumper pellets from our local feed store, he also enjoys fruits and veggies. Rabbits can have digestive issues so being mindful of what your feeding them and balancing their diet is a must.

  I mentioned we give Thumper toys. One thing we have learned is you don't have to go out and buy expensive things. One of Thumpers favorites is toliet paper or paper towel rolls. Rabbits are burrowing animals. Lots of people buy then the toy tunnels, and we probably will eventually. However I've found something much more cost effective. I take a box and cut holes in both ends, I use pull up or diaper boxes because they tend to be long. Thumper goes crazy over this. When hes in his cage he spends alot of his time in his.

 He does chew on it also, so I replace it with a new one ever so often. Im able to do this because I always have diaper/ pull up boxes. I just save them for him and when his starts getting worn out I replace it. This works so well for us. Thumper gets so excited when he gets a new one. I try to do something a little different on each one. This one I left the flap on the front, I typically cut them off. He found the flap immediately and played with it, pushing it in and out of the box. There is a hole cut out for him to run in and out each end. Just a fun and yet easy idea for your rabbit. 

I often hear that Rabbits are not good pets for children. The reasoning behind this is they dont like loud noises and sudden movements. I can only speak for Thumper, but Connor is hands down Thumpers favorite. From the moment Jeremy brought him home, and Connor peered in the box and said " HIIII" these two have been best buds. 

 Connor loves to help with him. He mostly opens his cage door to let him out, but as he gets older we are excited to see him be able to help with him more.

 Maybe he'll take over litter box duty someday. 😉😂  

They love to chase each other, and Thumper is always seeking Connors attention. They really are the cutest together. 

Thumper really is the sweetest. He doesnt like to be picked up, some rabbits do, but from what I've heard most share this trait of his. However he LOVES attention and to be petted. He recently has started hopping up in our laps, this is new and just started recently after having him for 5 months which goes to show that it takes time. Rabbits can be as affectionate as dogs, but it depends on your rabbit and it takes time. So do not give up.

Rabbits are smart, funny, and affectionate, and in my opinion one of the best pets. If you have any more questions feel free to reach out to me, You can also follow Thumper on instagram 

 Username: thumper_ton 

https://www.instagram.com/thumper_ton?r=nametag

3-21

World Down Syndrome Day. (2020)

Ill let the pictures do the talking, but needless to say We ROCKED IT!!

       Thank you for celebrating with me! Keep spreading the word that our differences make us beautiful!

There's still joy....

  In a World with so much uncertainty one things for sure....I LOVE this boy! 

  I could get lost in the chaos. I could feel the weight of hopelessness as life seems to spiral all around me. I have no idea when school will go back. Peoples jobs are shutting down. Restaurants are closed, or carry out only. Churches are closed, well online services only, while I understand this is necessary, this breaks me. At a time when we need Him more than ever we are forced to close. Stores are in utter chaos, hording has become a real problem. People are scared, and we dont become the best version of ourselves when we are fear driven.  In the mist of it seeming like the world is crumbling around me I'm reminding myself daily to focus on what matters. Clinging to our sovereign God, and holding tight to my family.

  Its been 11 days since I've been in a store. Its been 3 weeks since Connor has. Keeping him out of public is necessary. Protecting him is top priority, and while my mind is constantly in overdrive. Overthinking, worrying, and trying my best to keep all things at bay. I look over at someone so innocent. Someone who doesnt have a clue that the world around him is in sheer panic. And I envy him.

  Oh to have that pure joy in such times of darkness. To not grasp the seriousness around me. The world may never understand what I do, but oh how I wanna be more like you.

  I could never adequately tell you how I love this boy. How He makes me slow down, and enjoy every moment more. How in the mist of darkness, his light reminds me there's still joy.  

Lets all try our best to remain focused on what matters. To keep our eyes on God, and love people. To help those in need, and pray without ceasing.

 May we not forget that Gods got this! 

Who gets the Ventilator???

Were Currently in a pandemic. Life has changed and things are spiraling. Social Distancing is urged, and yet it still is not being taken seriously by so many.  Schools, restaurants, and stores are closing. Sports, concerts, and other large events are canceled. It is scary. Stores are packed with shoppers who are panicking, and hording up supplies simply out of fear.  Its easy to get sucked into the chaos. I'm gonna share with you a few facts about the actual virus, and then my deepest darkest fear. 

* I will forewarn you this post is deep, dark, and brutally honest.*

  Did you know you can have the Coronavirus for 1-14 days before developing symptoms.  Once the virus is inside the body it begins infecting  epithelial cells in the lining of the lungs. A mild case of the virus includes fever and cough. More severe than the seasonal flu, and doesnt require hosptialization. The mild cases are because the bodies immune response is able to contain the virus in the upper respiratory tract. A Mild version of symptoms include dry cough, shortness of breath, fever and headache, muscle pain, tiredness comparable to the flu. This is why its often being written off as nothing more than a common cold. However statistics show 13.8% will have a severe case and 6.1%  will be critical cases. A severe case is  due to the virus trekking down the windpipe and entering the lower respiratory tract where it seems to prefer growing.  The lungs are the major target. As the virus continues to replicate and journeys further down the windpipe and into the lung, it causes more respiratory problems such as bronchitis and pnuemonia. 

 When Pneumonia occurs with this virus its basically a war between the host response and the virus. Depending who wins the war there is a good outcome where the patient recovers or a bad outcome where they dont. 

As oxygen is restricted to the bloodstream it deprives major organs of oxygen including the liver, kidneys, and brain. 

 

A small number of severe cases it can develop into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) which requires a patient to be placed on a ventilator to supply oxygen. If too much of the lung is damaged and not enough oxygen is supplied to the rest of the body respiratory failure could lead to organ failure and death.  This outcome is uncommon for the majority of patients infected. 

Those most at risk to severe developments are older than 70 and have weak immune responses. Others at risk include people with pulmonary abnormalities, chronic disease, or compromised immune systems. 

The US and other countries face a critical  shortage of ventilators, a Life saving machine. 

So I ask you this if things get BAD, who gets the ventilators??

Ya'll remember a few years ago the outrage at Iceland for attempting to eradicate Down Syndrome??

Also there is the controversy of whether individuals with Down Syndrome should be able to receive a organ transplant with a doctor saying he would " rule them out" because they have a lower life expectancy.

 Dr. Arthur Caplan, the director of medical ethics for New York Universitys Langone Medical Center said  " If the potential recipient is severely intellectually impaired...I do not consider it to make sense to consider that child for a transplant."

I know were talking about a virus, not a transplant or eradicating Down Syndrome. Forgive me for feeling this is important. This is why Connor hasnt been in a store in over two weeks. This is why you will not see him in public under any circumstance. This is why we are MIA right now. We are locked in tight. Connors lungs could not take the hit. God forbid things got severe it would be BAD. His immune system, his lung scarring,his history of  reoccurring pnuemonia, I need to do everything in my power to try to ensure he doesnt get the dreaded Coronavirus. 

I have to do everything in my power to protect him, because if the last ventilator were between him and a typical child,even if he were worse, Im not confident he would get it.  Thats sadly the world we live in. He deserves the same chance as anyone else. How, how can we live in a world where so many still dont see that. Where he will always be considered less worthy ( by some).  A world where things would be fine, unless we run out. Should we run out of a life saving machine im not confident my child would get a chance simply because he has a intellectual disability, there is so much wrong with that.  The fact that I even have to think of him being discounted literally because of who he is leaves me broken. Broken for this sweet boy, but also broken for this world. Oh the beauty so many are missing out on because their too blind to see people as more than their diagnosis, more than their disability, more than their differences. 

 I'm not trying to scare anyone, I simply want to make you think. Ponder on it. If things get bad, who gets the ventilator??