Prayers answered! She's back!

[guidofatherof5]

Okay, This story begins over a year ago. My daughter Gabby(age8), found a baby Plaines. Of course we kept it. I first noticed something different about this little one. She really seemed to like spending time with my Gabby. She didn't bolt or go crazy to escape whenever she was held. My daughter named her "Lucky". This is important to the story. If Lucky was set down she didn't take off like a shot and when she was picked up she seemed fine with it. She was a good eater and grew very quickly.
As will happen with snakes and chidren, the snakes will get lost or get away. Lucky was lost twice in the house and found with incident. In all my years of having Garters I've never gotten them back alive when lost in the house. Then, one late afternoon during the summer my daughter, Lucky and I were outside. Gabby asked if I would watch Lucky while she went inside for a moment. I assured her I would not let her get away. Well, I didn't hold up my end of the deal and I lost Lucky. 1 hour became 2 and then 3 in our whole family and neighbors search of the yards. I continued my search when my kids left for a while. While searching the neighbors property(4 1/2 hours after being lost) during a thunder storm that had moved into the area I found Lucky. She appeared to be waiting for someone to find her.
Then came last Saturday when one of my kids didn't keep track of her in her front opening enclosure. We didn't know she was gone until the next day. Lucky was gravid with approx. 25 babies. A 6 hours complete search of the basement insued with no luck(no pun intended). Every night after that I would wakeup during the night and do a search of all the places she could have been. Little(27inches) Lucky was put on a lot of prayer chains. She means a lot to my daughter and the rest of the family. Tonight, while looking for something unrelated to Lucky I did find her(9 days after being lost). We had been walking past her since she was gone. She was probably looking at us and wondering why we didn't pick her up.
She was cold but alert and immediately drank a lot of water. Some she threw-up. She's back with the other members of her family and will be watched over the next week for any ill effects from her little adventure.
I would say she has this family wrapped around her little finger but of course she doesn't have fingers. I hope you've enjoyed this glimps into my wonderful family. God is good!
Steve(Dad)
Emmy(Daughter)
Kale(Son)
Molly(Daughter)
Gabriel(Daughter)
Hailee(Daughter)
Alex("Best dog inthe whole world")
Skipper(Dog)
Lucky(Great Plaines)
75(Plaines Garters)
Harry(Giant white kneed Tarantula)

[Garter_Gertie]

GOOD FOR YOU! You should be able to sleep well tonite, Steve!

Glad the little girl is back. Has she had her litter? If not, don't be surprised if some/many kids are still born. Stress can do that.

But - maybe the 75 babies are Lucky's? HOPE SO!

If it were me, and I'm not as xperienced as the majority of others here, I'd keep the temps a bit higher and give plenty of water; leave her alone - not try to hold/snuggle her, and not try and feed her. Let her get comfy again.

GOOD FOR YOU! Glad there's a happy ending to your story!

[jitami]

Aw... what a Lucky girl

[guidofatherof5]

Lucky hasn't had her babies yet. This will be her first time. Sept. 7th was her conception date. I will up the temp. She has access to plenty of water right outside her hide box. She alert and seems normal. Thanks for the advise. My avatar is our girl Lucky and she is also featured in my entry into the "Climbing" Photo Contest.

[Hornets23]

Yeah, looks like you named her appropriately!

[Garter_Gertie]

I'd not up the temp excessively - she's prolly already dehydrated. But just a couple o'degrees. Just enough to give a little bit more warmth than what she had while out.

Hope Lucky holds the sperm until spring... And she's old and big enuff. I'd not keep the temps up more than your usual temps than like three days.

[reptile3]

thanks for sharing the story about Lucky, she is lucky to have you all!!!

[Sid]

Nice story, Steve. Glad all turned out OK and Lucky is doing alright.

[Lori P]

Great story, Steve. Now put a collar on that snake and chain her into her enclosure. LOL!!!!

[olive oil]

Good read, thank's for sharing. She is beautiful.