Merry Christmas 2012 =)

Merry Christmas, Everyone  :)

I weigh 2.95 kg or 6.5 lbs or 104 ounces at 2 1/2 yrs old as of Dec. 12, 2012  =)

Whitish Chalky Substance in My Wee

Every once in a while, I expel this whitish chalky substance along with my wee.  Don't panic  =)  This whitish chalky substance is is metabolized protein, which I sometimes expel along with my wee in the form of urates.  Keeping myself well hydrated by soaking for 10 minutes everyday makes it sooooooo much easier for me to detox myself of these semi-solid, white deposits.   It's a good thing that Liza takes time to prepare my soaking tub everyday with slightly warm water  =)  Here's a tip on how to save on electricity when heating your soaking water:  When it's bright and sunny outside, leave your soaking tub of water under the unfiltered sunlight for at least 15 minutes, and voila!  You have instant warm water  =)

"Ahh!  Lovely! This is me having a wonderful bath under the sun.  That whitish/pinkish, chalky, semi-solid substance that you see near my bum are the urates that I expelled while weeing in my bath."

 You May Also Want To Read Some of My Other Related Blog Posts:
 •       Having A Detox Spa In My Soaking Tub

Signs of New Shell Growth - Pink Outlines on Plastron & White Outlines In Between Scutes

How do you know that you are growing?  Here's how:  Ask your human to pick you up and look at your plastron (bottom shell).  If he/she sees pink outlines in between parts of your plastron, then those pink outlines are signs of new shell growth.  It means that you're still growing  =)

"Those pink outlines in between parts of my plastron are a sign of new shell growth"  =)

On the other hand, if your human notices white outlines in between your scutes (parts of your top shell), then assure him/her that those white outlines are signs of new shell growth, too  =)

"The white outlines in between parts of my top shell are signs of new shell growth.  I'm a growing baby girl! lol!"  =)

Off topic: I'm so excited because my human mum joined the Tortoise Trust forum today.  The information on that site helped save my life and I am forever grateful to Andy Highfield & his team.  They have a charity called the "Jill Martin Fund for Tortoise Welfare & Conservation".  I want to post a banner link to that charity's website on here so that they could continue to help tortoises like myself from around the globe  =)  I'll work on this after the weekend.  Have a great weekend, everyone!!!!!!!

Work Out Those Muscles & Bones! =)

Take time to exercise everyday to help increase your body's metabolism, and strengthen your muscles and bones.  Here I am exercising my leg muscles.  So that in the event that I get sick and lethargic, my legs will be strong enough for me to still be able to carry myself around.  I'm sure everybody gets sick at least once in their lifetime, right?  It's better to be prepared at all times  =)  If you just woke up but for some odd reason you still find yourself too lazy to walk, then I suggest that you have a change of environment.  Go outside, and you'll find how the bright environment, varying ground textures of grass & rock & pavement, and sights as far as the eyes can see, can be very stimulating to your senses -- compared to the cold marble floor inside the house and the boring four corners of your room that you are so used to.  You'll find youself walking & exploring in no time  =)  Feel free to leave a comment below.

"Here I am exercising my leg muscles.  So that in the event that I get sick and lethargic, my legs will be strong enough for me to still be able to carry myself around." 

 You May Also Want To Read Some of My Other Related Blog Posts:

•      My Recommended Nom Nomz List: Grasses, Flowers, Greens & Other Sources of                  Multiminerals
•       Why Basking in Unfiltered Sunlight is Important For You & Me =)
•       Having A Detox Spa In My Soaking Tub (a topic on the importance of soaking)

•       I Survived MBD (metabolic bone disease)

My Bedtime Prayer For All My Sick Tortoise Friends

Dear God,
Please help all of my sick tortoise friends heal from their illnesses, especially those who are suffering from the dreaded MBD (metabolic bone disease). May they have the strength to maintain their appetite in order to sustain their nutritional needs;  May they have the will to survive for themselves & for their humans who love them very, very much. Please lead my sick tortoises' humans to veterinarians who have actual experience with handling & curing tortoises.  May these humans have the patience and necessary resources to get thru this challenging phase.  God bless us all -- myself, my human mum, my tortoise friends, and my tortoise friends' humans.  Saint Francis of Asisi, pray for us.  Amen  :)

Saint Francis of Asisi is the patron saint of animals.

You May Also Want To Read Some of My Other Related Blog Posts:
•       Treating My Eye Inflammation