A Test. A Pig. A Gift.

What a weekend at our house!  Lots of abnormal things going on – but that’s okay – it makes life interesting.

First, the PIG.

 Everyone keeps asking about Missy’s overhaul. What is it exactly?  It’s pretty much her yearly check up!  The vet comes to our house and knocks her out and trims her hooves, cleans her teeth and ears and checks to make sure she’s good and healthy!  And, of course, she is.  Dr. Campbell (her vet since birth) calls her the Michelle Pfiefer of pigs – haha!

Missy is 17 1/2 years old and still has all her teeth.  They are in there ‘solid and strong’ as the Doc says.  Most pigs lose all their teeth by the age of 7 or 8.  On top of that, she has no plaque – which is amazing!

Most pigs by Missy’s age are either, well, dead or living a not so healthy life with arthritis, liver disease, obesity or massive weight loss – but not Missy.  She still walks wonderfully, putting most her weight on her hind end – which is good.  When they start having problems, their weight will shift to the front of their bodies and can cause major problems with their legs – since pot-bellied pigs are proportioned so out of balance.  Heavy head, heavy body and short little legs.

She shows no signs of disease in her body.  She eats, sleeps and eliminates normally.  She’s cranky, but that’s normal in a pig, especially her age.  Missy is still at 1/4 cup dry pig chow a day, which is also another amazing thing.  Most pigs, as they age, need to increase their chow amount to maintain nutrients and a stable weight.  Some her age, even younger, are eating around 2 cups of dry chow a day just to keep healthy. 

Missy truly is an example of a blessed pig!

The oldest pot-bellied pig known in Colorado right now in 22 years old and she’s not the healthiest thing around.  I believe Missy can surpass that number at the rate she is going.  She will be 18 years old on August 22nd and May 7th will mark 17 years that I have had her as my pet!  Wow – almost seems like yesterday me and my dad brought her home!  She was 9 months old and we ‘rescued’ her from a family who could not properly take care of her.  They both were doctors and were gone from the house around 17 hours a day and Missy (they called her Valen-swine) was locked in a small bathroom the entire time.  When she came to live with us, she received her freedom to roam, graze, sunbath and be a pig.  She’s like a child to me!

The year we got Missy – 1993)

So, that’s her overhaul.  Up until 3 or 4 years ago, we had to do this twice a year!  I’m glad it’s only once a year now.

(Missy as Minnie Mouse on Halloween 1993)

The Test!

I finally finished my final exam for my certification for Wellness Coaching!  It was 200 questions and the last part was definitely – challenging.  I’ll hear back within 2-3 weeks of my results.  I’m confident I did very good, although there were a couple questions that I wasn’t 100% positive I answered correctly.  We’ll see!

The Gift!

I also finished the baby gift I was working on for my friend, Sarah, who is due May 22nd!  I’d would love to show you all what I made, but I can’t – not yet.  Her shower is May 1st, so after the shower, I can post some pics of what I made.  She periodically stops in to read my blog, so I don’t want to give anything away.  It took me a little over 3 months to make it and I’m glad I am finally done with that too!  I think her little guy will like it :o)

Well, time to pick up my sweet Bella from school.  Don’t forget to stop in tomorrow – it is the 11th anniversary of the Columbine Shootings, so I’ll be doing a post with some photos I took at the memorial in the weeks following the tragedy that took place!

Have a great Monday!

remember to:
live.laugh.love.and.celebrate.life.

“Animals can communicate quite well.  And they do.  And generally speaking, they are ignored.” 

Alice Walker