u/LeoTheFloofyDragon

I did what had to be done because of this heatwave but God she looks so bad lmao

(Rambling vent ahead) I just want to have nice things without having to destroy myself for them. I work 3 days a week. I have had a couple weeks where I work 4, and every single time, it completely wipes me out, I can't consistently work more than 3. I also only work 6 hour shifts, I used to work 8 hours at a time, and that was as bad as working 4 days. After bills, I have about $50 to my name every week, sometimes slightly more, often even less than that. If I didn't live in a house with 3 other people where we all split bills, I wouldn't be able to afford to live off my income at all. I also recently had to eat through half my savings because of an emergency. Now I'm basically going to have to save every single extra bit of money I have to replenish it. No more little treats to get through my fucking week unless my gf offers to buy me something (which she often does because she is amazing, but it makes me feel guilty). I'm so tired of this

I've already worked the ladt 2 days, yesterday was particularly bad as I had to lift a bunch of heavy shit all day, I have to work the rest of today, and tomorrow my girlfriend and I have to go out and run errands, I have to do chores at home, and call my bank. I just want to curl up in bed. I'm in pain and I am so tired of being out of my home

Went to ikea with my gf and metas for the first time today and was able to get my own trans shark! I love her

My Power Puff Girls. Peanut Butter Blossom (left), Tiramisu (middle), and Muffin (right). Each of them so different in personality, but together, they shared an incredible bond. Truly, I don't think I can do justice to how special these girls were. Muffin was the oldest and my first pig. Very loving and affectionate. She didn't just tolerate being pet and held, but actively enjoyed sought out my attention. She would relax and get comfortable when I started petting her, and even regularly groomed me back. She loved her pellets. Whenever I would give them fresh pellets, she would spend 10 minuets going back and forth between the bowl and the water bottle. When her original cage mate, Mocha, passed away unexpectedly, I brought Tira into our lives. She was rather skittish at first, having been a child's pet before I got her. But after some time and lots of treats, she really started to show her personality. Sassy, opinionated, full of attitude. She loved to rumble strut and hip waggle at Muffin, who would just lay there and stare at her, unbothered and unimpressed. Tira was the only one who enjoyed pea flakes when I tried the girls on them, and she absolutely loved them. She was always so eager for her veggies and would come and stand up against the bars when I brought them. She did not enjoy being pet or held (clipping her nails was a pain in the butt. She was such a wiggler lol), but she was always excited to see me (and the treats I brought her lol) and would let me pet her head sometimes. After having the two of them for a couple of years, I decided to get a third pig. After searching, I found Blossom, a tiny little baby at the time. She was so small I could fit her in one hand. I introduced her to the other two girls, and within just a few days, it felt like she had always been there. She fit in so perfectly. She had so much energy, as babies do. Muffin found her annoying until she was tired and wanted to lay down together, but Tira was eager to run around with her and keep her entertained. Even as an adult, Blossom was the most energetic one of the bunch. And with her long hair came a big attitude. Her and Tira were quite the duo. She always hated having to get her hair cut, I'm sure the fact that I absolutely butchered it did not help lmao. We lovingly called it "the Karening" as she looked like a Karen haircut wig (she also acted like a Karen lol). The 3 of them were such a delight, both individually and as a group. They had such a strong bond. Muffin, the laid-back oldest lady, watching over the two rambunctious wild haired girls, who always kept each other entertained. And then when it was rest time, they would often rest together in pairs or as a whole group. There was never a dull moment with them, they were always such a delight to be around, interact with, and even just observe. Sadly, life is all too fleeting, especially for these little creatures. At 8 years old, Muffin was diagnosed with cancer, and after two months, in which she was her usual lazy, loving, and calm self, she passed away peacefully in her sleep. Not long after, Tira developed cancer as well. She went downhill quicker than Muffin, and after only a month, she also passed away. Blossom was not alone for long, though, as when Tira was diagnosed, I began searching for a new companion so that I would not have a single pig grieving by herself. I got Honey Bun, and as fate would have it, soon enough, Churro and Wilhelmina would follow. Blossom had a good year with this group, enjoying the many delights of a herd, happily taking second in command next to Willy. But yesterday, her time, too, came to an end, and after taking a sudden turn for the worst, where she stopped eating and became very lethargic, I knew the kindest option was to let her go, and thus she was put to sleep. And now, all 3 of them have crossed over the rainbow bridge, reunited once again. It's a strange, bittersweet feeling. Maybe it sounds like I'm being ridiculous, anthropomorphizing, or projecting onto them. Maybe this trio really doesn't sound like anything particularly unique or special to anyone else. But I know that they were truly one of a kind. Seeing them together was like looking at a complete puzzle. I don't think I will ever have a group of pigs like them again. There will always be a special place in my heart for these 3 wonderful beings. I, of course, don't love my current 3 girls any less than I did these 3, I love all my children equally, but my original trio will always hold a particular place in my heart. To my 3 wonderful babies who are now gone, I love you so much. Words can't express how much your presence meant to me. What an honor it was to be able to take care of you. You were what kept me going through the darkest times. If it wasn't for you, I don't think I would be here right now. I miss all of you so much, but I'm so glad none of you are in pain anymore and that all of you have now reunited once more. I know that one day I, too, will see you all again, and I will make sure to bring you lots of vegetables and vitamin cookies and grass. Until we meet again, my darlings, look after one another. I love you three so much

Yesterday, I posted about Blossom having some health issues, labored breathing, and lethargy, but she was still excited to eat, which, as we know, is the most important thing with guinea pigs. Well, today, when I brought the girls their morning veggies, she did not get up when I called for her. I picked her up, and she was skin and bones (yesterday she was skinny but not like this). I tried to put a piece of lettuce in her mouth, and she would not eat it. I rushed her to the emergency vet, where they put her on emergency oxygen. After talking with the vet, I decided that with how quickly symptoms came on and how fast she deteriorated, she no longer had a good quality of life, and any meds we might try were more likely to prolong suffering then to actually help her. She was given a sedative to help her relax, then put to sleep, I was with her as she went, petting her. She was never unloved a day in her life. She was the last pig of my original trio (the Power Puff Girls as my sibling named the group, lol). It's not just hard that I'm losing her, it's also hard that I'm losing the last bit of my previous trio. I'm glad she isn't in pain anymore and that I was able to be with her in her final moments. She was a very sassy, opinionated baby. She was always excited for her veggies, would come right up and stand on the bars when I brought treats. Absolutely hated health checks lol. She was such a bright spot. I miss her so much already. Last 5 pictures are baby pics, and the very last photo is the day I got her and introduced her to Muffin and Tira, my two now passed girls. Don't take your loved ones for granted. Cherish the time you have with them.

Yesterday, I noticed her having labored breathing. I picked her up to listen to her lungs and heard a clicking sound when she would take in a breath. She is also acting lethargic, just laying in one place most of the day. She has also lost some weight over the past couple of months, not at a concerning rate, and because she is 4 years old, I just chalked it up to her aging and thus getting a bit skinnier, as senior animals tend to do, but in heindsite I think that could be connected to this. The good news is that she is still getting excited for food. Every time I have brought the girl's food today, she has gotten up and come to me and is enthusiastic. Even if she is lethargic the rest of the time, I'm grateful she still has a normal apatite. She is not coughing or sneezing and does not have discharge from her nose or mouth, which, while it's good she's not having to deal with that, it does not make me optimistic that this is just a URI. I have a gut feeling that this is cancer, as she is behaving similarly to how my previous two girl's I lost to cancer behaved shortly before/after they got diagnosed. I have made a vet appointment for Tuesday (unfortunately, that was the soonest available day). Until then, I'm just monitoring her, and as long as she is still excited for food, that's the most important thing. Please send her good vibes