I had a bad scare this morning!

[Ododad]

Ok, I check on my little herd at 7:00amC this morning as usual. Frodo is running his wheel (as usual) Marco is asleep burrowed in under his velux blanket (as usual), and... Odo is missing! She ALWAYS without fail sleeps burrowed under her wheel covered by her blanket. I peeked, no Odo. I look in the "kitchen" part of her condo thinking she may be getting a bite to eat,, no Odo. I look in the "bedroom" part of her condo where her igloo is. It does not look disturbed and the hedgie bag that I have inside her igloo is likewise empty. Ok, Odo has escaped. Again. I tore the house up! Looked everywhere, three times. No Odo. Now, I am getting scared and really worried. I had the kitchen glass door opened a crack so that Punk could go out for some fresh air. Might Odo have wandered outside also? I looked. All through the back yard, under the boat, everywhere! No Odo. Now I am about ready to just die. I go back inside the hedgie room and just stand there, staring down at Odo's condo. I can't see how she got out and I am thinking that I will never see her again. I can't even begin to describe what was going through my mind! I was very angry with myself, it was my job to care for her and ensure her safety and I had somehow failed her. My heart was breaking, ODO IS GONE! How could I have let this happen? Was she ok somewhere? Was she hungry or thirsty and unable to reach food or water? Was she stuck under something and unable to get loose? Was she scared and alone somewhere? I was frantic and ready to panic! In truth, I was about ready to cry. (Hard to admit that!)
Then as I am staring at her igloo, with blurry eyes and heavy heart, the igloo moves. Just a tiny movement. I blinked, thinking that I truly was losing my mind and it moved again! Again, just a tiny movement. I lifted the igloo and there, buried under her bedding, under the hedgie bag and under the igloo, was my Odo! Safe and sound, and peering at me wondering what was going on. I laughed, I cried, I picked her up and held her, I fed her mealies, I fed her a cricket. She is now in my lap, in her hedgie bag sound asleep again. She will not leave my sight this day!
My heart is beginning to beat normally now, the lightheadedness is slowing going away, and I don't feel as sick to my stomach now.
I haven't been that scared in a very long time! :laugh:

[giry76]

How scary! I am glad you found her and that she was safe and sound.

[shirleytx]

I'm glad she wasn't lost. I can imagine how freaked you would be.

[Hedge_girl]

Ugh! I've had that feeling before-the moment of panic when you can't find hedgie anywhere _in_ the cage, but hedgie shouldn't have been able to get _out_ of the cage so where could hedgie be?! I'm not especially fond of it.

And all we get after all that worry is a dark look and a "What's all the fuss about? I was asleep here!" :laugh:

EDIT: I forgot to mention I'm very glad that you found her and in a very safe place!

[Nancy]

:laugh: I think you need glasses Billy. :laugh:
She is paying you back for all those tummy tests you do. :laugh:

[kaiteedyd]

I know that feeling all too well. And then you feel so silly afterwards.

If there is ever a next time my advice is to keep calm and know that you'll find her.

One time I couldn't find Beastly (I have no idea how he got out of his cage as at the time it was an aquarium.) but I didn't panic and I discovered him hiding underneath a recliner.

Glad you found 'er.

[Love4Hedgies]

Oh man! I am so glad she is safe and sound and that you are okay too! What a scare!

[Kerrie]

So very happy to hear Odo was safe and sound.:)

[bandymandy]

So scary. Very glad to hear you found her safe & sound.

[paris26]

They sure know how to scare the bejeezus out of us don't they!

Oliver says to Odo: You got mealies and a cricket? When I took off on mom, she made me eat vegetables! I might have to run away to your house if you guys get bugs!!!