week #5 had its ups and downs...

first, the down. on tuesday, as i was putting cookie to bed, i suddenly heard her breathing raspily. she stood extremely still, eyes looking straight in one direction (not pinned), chest pumping faster than normal - a stance that i understand as "fearful". when i moved, her breathing again became audible. i talked to her calmly and tried to reassure her. i tried giving her a sliver of almond, but she was completely not interested - she didn't even look at it. the weird thing was that nothing in the room had changed - i didn't add anything to the room nor did i remove anything. no knew smells, colors, etc. i thought she was having a heart attack or something.

i stayed with her and she calmed down about a half an hour later. she started moving and climed to her sleep perch. she also started to clean her beak, so i thought it was okay to cover her up for the night and i would make a vet appointment in the morning.

next morning, she looked okay - as if nothing happened. i packed her in a carrier and whisked her away to the vet. long story short - the vet found nothing wrong with her from xrays, blood test, and physical exam. she actually looks a lot better than from the first time she was at that vet. (thanks to her former owner/foster home!)

we are still waiting on the results of the culture test.

since then, she has been her good self. maybe the tennant upstairs made some weird noise that scared her - not sure. at least it doesn't seem to be anything physical.

Cookie continues to be more outgoing! yay! she unhesitatingly steps up on to my arm when she sees me holding a sliver of almond for her. i talk to her and carry her around on my arm in the room, showing her different views of her cage, the bed, etc. this weekend, i carried her on my arm into the shower. we enjoyed taking a lukewarm shower together - she occasionally "talked" to me as i spoke and whistled to her.

she also responds to our other foster bird when that one starts attacking her bells. cookie seems to like the ringing of bells and calls to it. very cute! cookie has also been responding to the calls of my own amazon. (maybe it has something to do with him being a male and cookie "possibly" being female?) - by the way, i have to see if results of cookie's dna test is in (i asked that one be done for cookie during the last vet visit).

cookie still doesn't show any interest in being scritched anywhere. the most i can do so far is tickle her toe(s). that is okay with me. i don't want to force something on her because this could break any trust that i have worked for from her up to this point. she interacts with me, she is calm around me, she eats, she plays, she vocalizes happily and plays with her bell (which means she is happy!). i can't be more happy for her. if she decides to one day honor me with scritching her head, then that will be a definite BREAKTHROUGH day. :-)

Cookie will be a great bird for someone who has a calm and friendly personality. she finds that high energy (anxiousness, peppiness, high-strung, nervousness) makes her fearful and she will defend herself. she needs someone who will respect her needs to take things slow. (she probably has about 30 - 40 years left in her, so there is no need to rush things). i have not yet tested her around children, dogs and cats. her former owner did own cats and a dog, however, and i believe things were going along okay. if she finds someone like this, she will really bloom for you and be a wonderful, calm companion.

*reminder to myself - put up more pictures/movies of cookie.