Food for thought

Blueberry was not his usual self yesterday. He was struggling to swim, and was sticking rather close to the water surface in a very awkward lopsided manner. Considering that almost all of the fish that Xena's classmates got back from the fish farm have died, I've been prepping myself for the inevitable, and thinking of ways to break it to Xena if it does happen. So far, I've only got "Xena, Blueberry died." Sometimes, the plain old truth is the best approach.

Anyway, the three of us got together to do some medical research on his condition last night. By the three of us, I don't mean Viv, Xena and me. I meant Viv, Google (or as Xena prefers, 'Google uncle') and me. This article accurately seemed to diagnose his condition, so we followed the tips given, and *touchwood* he is so much better today. We are all breathing a sigh of relief. Until the next panic attack he gives us, of course.

The 'treatment' for the swim bladder condition he seems to have requires us to starve him for three days to clear his gut out, and, I kid you not, to monitor his pooping.

This evening, Xena suddenly exclaimed, "Mama, you forgot to feed Blueberry today!"

"No, we are supposed to starve him for three days, remember?"

"What is 'starve him for three days'?" She asked.

"We can't give him any food for three days."

"He won't eat anything for three days?"

"That's right."

"Why not?"

"Because he was not feeling well, remember?"

Xena thought long and hard, and then finally said, "Mama, I'm also not feeling well."

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how much my kid hates food. :/