Bunnies and life lessons

Last Saturday we went to check out baby bunnies at a breeder's place. The kids have wanted bunnies for quite a while now, and so has Mama. :)

The original plan was to just look at the bunnies, then get things ready at home (rabbit hutch etc), go to Oma's and Opa's for a few days and then pick up the bunnies. But the bunnies were selling fast, so we decided to take two home right away. The breeder loaned us a cage as an interim home for them.

Lily picked an all white fluff ball with blue eyes, which she called Snowbell, "Schneeglöckchen" in German.

Finn said this little fellow hopped right into his heart, and he named him Timmy.

At home there was a lot of cuddling with the bunnies going on.

And play time under the tree house

and on the patio

And then tragedy struck. This is the last picture of Snowbell before the accident. While they were playing with the bunnies under the tree house, Finn took a step back and stepped on Snowbell - something I had feared could happen. I had told the kids repeatedly to always make sure where both bunnies were before they moved their feet. Now of course I regret leaving them alone with the baby bunnies. Finn came and told me right away, and although Snowbell was still moving and hopping around we took her to the vet clinic. The vet took an x-ray, which showed nothing of concern, but her breathing was too fast and she wouldn't eat or drink. Snowbell got some pain killers and we were told to let her rest and come back in a week.

I left to go to the barn while the kids and Neil stayed home, and about three hours after our vet visit little Snowbell took her last breath. The kids were inside the house playing, so Neil phoned me with the news. We decided Timmy shouldn't stay alone and that another bunny would help Lily get over her loss quicker, so I went to the breeder's place (it's close to the barn) to see if he had another female baby bunny, while Neil got things ready at home for Schneeglöckchen's funeral.  

After I got home we told the kids what had happened and let them say goodbye. It was heartwrenching. They were both devastated. Finn had to learn that not all mistakes can be undone, and that your prayers sometimes aren't answered the way you want them to be.

Having a new bunny to cuddle helped Lily a little, and Timmy loves his new companion a lot. The new bunny is named "Flöckchen" - Small Flake - and she is already a little bigger than Snowbell was. She is white with brown and grey patches, and very cuddly.

The next morning, Lily got up super early again (ever since we've had the bunnies the kids have been getting up at the crack of dawn), and apparently there is nothing like some bunny cuddle therapy at 6 in the morning to help you face the day.