Kahlua and Jack
It's been a whirlwind since Kahlua passed over the rainbow bridge. I've hardly had time to do much. We had a graduation to attend in Reno just 2 days after he passed. The timing was such that I dropped him off the next day and he was ready to pick up the day after we got back, which was Thursday. His eulogy is one of the easier ones to write, so here goes:
Kahlua was as smooth and sweet as the drink he's named after. His cuddles left you with the same warm fuzzy feeling you get with a nice glass of Kahlua and milk. He spent his entire life with us and his brother as his partner. He never had a single issue with Jack. They cuddled together when they slept and shared their food equally without any strife. He didn't have a mean bone in his body. He loved everyone so much that I was able to take him and Jack to the junior vet camp at the animal clinic in Ava, MO to meet the kids. Every kid, including the little girl who was afraid got to hold him and learn a little bit about guinea pigs. He even sat still while they listened to his heart with their stethoscopes. He was that cool and laid back. We all miss him and are that much more empty since he's gone. Rest well sweet Kahlua until we meet again on the other side.
Kahlua and Jack shortly after they were separated from their mother and sisters.
Little Kahlua at about 3 weeks old. This is one of only a few pictures I took of him without Jack. They were that close
Their first time outside to graze.
This is the last photo I took of him 2 days before his passing. You'd never know he was sick and not eating. Pretty good indication that he had bloat or a blockage.
I have his urn built and his ashes inside at his final resting place. There's still his frame and haiku to write. It'll be a temporary thing until he's joined by his brother, Jack. Hopefully that's a long way off.
Notice that his name plate is off to the side of the urn. That's because I am going to get one of those mini bottles of Kahlua and see if I can peel off the label to put next to it. If not, I'll be making one on the computer. When it’s Jack's time, I plan to make a new frame and haiku for both of them together and put a Jack Daniel's label next to his name plate under Kahlua's.
Speaking of Jack, he seems to be hanging in there. The first couple of days were the toughest for him. I almost canceled our trip. He spent all of his time in the tunnel where Kahlua laid and wouldn't come out. He wouldn't even come up to take food from me and ran when I opened his cage to pick him up. He did eat, but only if I placed his food in front of the tunnel so that he could get it without coming out. He was doing better when it was time for us to go. I took one of the tunnels out right before we left. He's mostly back to normal now. He is taking food from me again and moving around a little more than he did before he lost Kahlua.
I was going to see if he would pair with Grady when we got back. They're only about 5 weeks apart in age, although at nearly 3 and a half pounds (3.42 lbs), Jack is almost twice Grady's size. If things go south, Grady could get badly injured. I don't see the need to risk it since they're both ok on their own. Jack has been moved over where he's next to his sister, Muffin and Grady is next to Skipper. It works, so I'm not inclined to put them through the pairing process, at least for now. I'm monitoring him closely and if he relapses, I'll consider it again.
Kahlua was as smooth and sweet as the drink he's named after. His cuddles left you with the same warm fuzzy feeling you get with a nice glass of Kahlua and milk. He spent his entire life with us and his brother as his partner. He never had a single issue with Jack. They cuddled together when they slept and shared their food equally without any strife. He didn't have a mean bone in his body. He loved everyone so much that I was able to take him and Jack to the junior vet camp at the animal clinic in Ava, MO to meet the kids. Every kid, including the little girl who was afraid got to hold him and learn a little bit about guinea pigs. He even sat still while they listened to his heart with their stethoscopes. He was that cool and laid back. We all miss him and are that much more empty since he's gone. Rest well sweet Kahlua until we meet again on the other side.
Kahlua and Jack shortly after they were separated from their mother and sisters.
Little Kahlua at about 3 weeks old. This is one of only a few pictures I took of him without Jack. They were that close
Their first time outside to graze.
This is the last photo I took of him 2 days before his passing. You'd never know he was sick and not eating. Pretty good indication that he had bloat or a blockage.
I have his urn built and his ashes inside at his final resting place. There's still his frame and haiku to write. It'll be a temporary thing until he's joined by his brother, Jack. Hopefully that's a long way off.
Notice that his name plate is off to the side of the urn. That's because I am going to get one of those mini bottles of Kahlua and see if I can peel off the label to put next to it. If not, I'll be making one on the computer. When it’s Jack's time, I plan to make a new frame and haiku for both of them together and put a Jack Daniel's label next to his name plate under Kahlua's.
Speaking of Jack, he seems to be hanging in there. The first couple of days were the toughest for him. I almost canceled our trip. He spent all of his time in the tunnel where Kahlua laid and wouldn't come out. He wouldn't even come up to take food from me and ran when I opened his cage to pick him up. He did eat, but only if I placed his food in front of the tunnel so that he could get it without coming out. He was doing better when it was time for us to go. I took one of the tunnels out right before we left. He's mostly back to normal now. He is taking food from me again and moving around a little more than he did before he lost Kahlua.
I was going to see if he would pair with Grady when we got back. They're only about 5 weeks apart in age, although at nearly 3 and a half pounds (3.42 lbs), Jack is almost twice Grady's size. If things go south, Grady could get badly injured. I don't see the need to risk it since they're both ok on their own. Jack has been moved over where he's next to his sister, Muffin and Grady is next to Skipper. It works, so I'm not inclined to put them through the pairing process, at least for now. I'm monitoring him closely and if he relapses, I'll consider it again.
Sorry, but imgur isn't cooperating and I can't edit anymore, so I'll try to post as links you can click to see them.
First time outside:
https://imgur.com/gallery/kahlua-jack-f ... ZF#bkjzTSt
Right after being separated from mom and sisters:
https://imgur.com/gallery/kahlua-jack-aeihs8d#OXBOAQX
3 weeks old:
https://imgur.com/gallery/little-boy-na ... H3#mcvReei
Last photo of him alive:
https://imgur.com/a/DD1Smdz#zE9Bs8V
The urn:
https://imgur.com/a/CDGbDfB#LA44Ltd
First time outside:
https://imgur.com/gallery/kahlua-jack-f ... ZF#bkjzTSt
Right after being separated from mom and sisters:
https://imgur.com/gallery/kahlua-jack-aeihs8d#OXBOAQX
3 weeks old:
https://imgur.com/gallery/little-boy-na ... H3#mcvReei
Last photo of him alive:
https://imgur.com/a/DD1Smdz#zE9Bs8V
The urn:
https://imgur.com/a/CDGbDfB#LA44Ltd
Happy birthday to Jack (June 27th). 4 years old and doing fine. 4 years old. Doesn't seem like it's been that long. He's a gentle giant. He got extra treats for his birthday. Grass, cilantro and an extra baby carrot.
Can't wish Jack a happy birthday without mentioning Kahlua. Such a shame that he passed away so close to his 4th. We miss him every day and will until we're together again in the next life.
Can't wish Jack a happy birthday without mentioning Kahlua. Such a shame that he passed away so close to his 4th. We miss him every day and will until we're together again in the next life.
SHOP AMAZON