Ponderosa References
May 16, 2007
I thought I would let you know how Willa is doing. She is loving life. Everyone she meets spoils her with gifts, but no one spoils her best like Grandma and Grandpa. She hasn't quite adjusted to the snow yet. We make it to her potty spot and then it's back up the driveway running and barking to the door. She's got quite the personality. Selective hearing is starting and she has "her" favorite spot on the couch. But, we couldn't ask for a better pig. She is our little angel in disguise. I can't believe she is going to be five months old. On a side note, I wanted to let you know about my health. I finished up my 12 chemo treatments in November. I had my tests last week and got my results yesterday from the doctor. Unfortunately, it's not the news that I wanted to hear. My cancer is growing. So, I have to go next week for another biopsy of the node in my neck (the same spot I had the last biopsy.) They want to make sure that I do in fact have Hodgkins Disease. She thinks there could be a possibility of it being Non-Hodgkins as well. The following week I start chemo again, but with different drugs (ICE) is the acronym. This will be three days in a row of treatment, lasting 6 hours a day. I will do this twice, consisting of six total treatments. Sometime in February I will then have a stem cell transplant. I will be in the hospital for three weeks. I am staying positive though. That's what got me through it so far. I have my loving family and friends to help me. (And my little piggie too.) I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Sincerely, Jen, Chris, and Willa
 Other Pet References |
It's nice to hear from you. How is everything going on the farm? Willa is doing great! She is in pig heaven now with the warm weather. She's outside all day long rooting, laying in the sun, wading in her pool and speaking with the neighbor's horses. She comes in at sunset and climbs right into her bed for the night. I love her SOOO much!! She's going to be two in July already!! I can't believe it. I'm attaching recent pictures of her.
gave her some pig food and was petting her in no time. We let her out of the nursery into the rest of the kitchen and she played with me and Chris for about an hour. I then led her back into the nursery where she climbed into my lap and slept. I didn't want to move her! She was so comfortable. :) She slept all through the night and was so excited to see us this morning. We played with her for a while, gave her some breakfast and then she followed me up the stairs! She's so brave, for such a little girl. ;) Right now she's on her blankee in her nursery taking a snooze. 
almost as if she was saying, "look Mom, I'm pooping in my box, can I come out
now?" :) I praised her each time with a good old scratch on her back and
belly. She is so good. She sleeps all night long. She's been up since 9 this
morning and is just laying down now, 3:15pm. When I go upstairs she starts
grunting real low and long. It's amazing how quickly she bonded. I can barely
sit down on the floor and she's jumping right in my lap. Last night I got home
from my treatment and laid down on the floor on my belly and she climbed right
up my back and laid on me and we took a nap together. She is definitely my
little angel. She's kept me so preoccupied today, that I haven't had time to
think about feeling sick! :) We are so happy with her.
I can't believe it's been a month already that we've had Willa!!! She's doing great. She's grown quite a bit and her coat is coming in nice and thick. She'll need it for the winter. She loves attention and loves people. We've been taking her for walks every day, which she really enjoys. She has also learned to go up/down stairs and up/down on the couch.
For the past week we have noticed her behavior changing. She is starting to "test" Chris. She has head swiped him a number of times. It's mainly when she is in her nursery. He'll pet her and she'll start growling or grunting low. He has told her to knock it off and also has pushed her shoulder. She hasn't tested me yet. We're not sure if she's doing this to see if she can "get ahead" of Chris. She has also been grinding her teeth like crazy. I'm wondering if one of her teeth is coming in. Is there anything we can do to alleviate that for her? I've got a teething ring, but she only bites on it for a little bit. Also, we still keep her in the nursery. When do you suggest getting rid of it? I know she can't contain her bladder until she is at least six months. But, when we are home, should we let her have free reign? We figured out how to keep the pet gate down without her picking it up. Chris tie wrapped two cement blocks to the side of the gate. It worked perfectly. Also, I would love to get in touch with the others that have her littermates. I noticed that Marie Norris and Erin Gregory are on the reference page. If they wouldn't mind, I'd like to e-mail with them, just to see how they are doing.
Well, I hope you are doing well. Willa is great!!! She has definitely been a wonderful addition to the family. 
Hi Kathleen, 