Kiwi is gone...

My little green parakeet, Kiwi, is gone. I have had him since I was 12 years old. My Papa gave me $20 for my birthday and I used it to buy Kiwi. I remember being a little girl, standing in the pet store. There were quite a few birds in a big glass aquarium. They all had the same green and yellow coloring. I stood there for a few minutes, trying to figure out which one that I wanted. I spotted Kiwi and decided that he was the one I wanted. I remember the employee coming over with a net and I pointed Kiwi out to him. I kept my eye on Kiwi the entire time, as the employee tried to chase him with the net... Eventually, we caught him!

Kiwi has always been small for his breed of bird. I currently have two other parakeets (Ty and Cotton) and they are quite a bit bigger than Kiwi, even though they are younger than him.

Kiwi got sick a few months ago and I had to take him in a couple of times to the vet. His balance become unsteady and his beak turned a different color (which can be a sign of sickness). I had to give him medicine by a dropper for a week and it seemed to help some, although he stayed towards the bottom of the cage as much as possible (due to loosing his balance).

A short time later, I took him back because there wasn't a great improvement. He was given another exam, where the vet noticed that one foot was weaker than the other, but really couldn't pin point the over all health problem. It was discussed how Kiwi was pretty old and was actually the oldest parakeet they had seen. Kiwi was given some steroids, via syringe, but other than that, they weren't sure what else to do.

I saw some improvement and he had been doing pretty well recently. A week or so ago, I actually got to enjoy him chirping (which is something he hasn't done too much recently).

He has been through so much with me. When I was young, I used to read him Little Critter books and give him gifts on holidays. :) When we moved from NC to TN, I held his cage on my lap for the 12 something hour drive.

He has been with me as I have grown up and through all of my moves. It's amazing to sit back and think of everything that we have done together.

I took him to the vet's office today and dropped him off to have him cremated. I will be able to pick him up sometime next week. He will be put in a cedar box with his name and the dates that I have had him (December 1996-August 2008).

I miss him so much already..... I love you, Kiwi!