Baby Changes Everything

So maybe it's the Holiday Season or the weather or the Christmas music and decorations, or perhaps it's the fact my 3 female goats just gave birth to a total of 6 babies. LOL. Regardless something has really started something rolling around in my head.

Mary and Joseph and that whole "Christmas" story. Can you imagine? Mary being a young girl and pregnant, you know she was criticized. Can you imagine Joseph? Finding out it's true your girlfriend who you have never touched is pregnant? I know I know there was the whole angel thing, but come on, how would you feel? Sometimes God has us do things we know we have to do but people look down on us or make fun of us or tell us their opinions. You know Mary and Joseph probably dealt with some of that.

To get to a strange town and look for a place to stay. No room, sorry no room. We are full up, no room. Finally someone offered a stable??? They jumped at it as a place to stay. I wonder what it was like. Was it a cave, I've heard the story told that way. Perhaps a big nice cozy and warm barn? What if it was like the little shelters my goats are using right now...

Their shelters are what I call the "Homeless Shacks" They are thrown together things, that is the only way to put it. Warped wood and tarps to keep them dry and warm until their better housing is completed.

I wonder if there was a billy goat named Phantom but everybody called him hillbilly, he might have been antisocial. Perhaps there was a little horse named Rowdy, but he was sweet. Maybe there were chickens peeking into the manger and horses eating the hay and chickens gripping the horse out for eating the hay and a horse that kept wiping his nose on everyone and nipping at their robes.

I wonder what it was like. It all hit me in reality as I lay on the yucky, nasty ground trying to save a breech baby. I didn't care if there was goat poo under me or the remains of Lexington Noel's birth. I didn't care, I was focused and determined on saving that baby. I wonder what the ground was like where Mary was, I really doubt it was crisp and clean. I live on a farm basically, we have close to 40 animals, counting all the cats, dogs, goats, horse, rabbit, fish and a goose. I know what the ground is like, YUCK, but in every one of the goats giving birth I've plopped my behind on the ground and helped. Cleanliness is not something animals care about and in that moment in time I didn't either, believe me that jean skirt and shirt will NEVER be the same. LOL.

Mary had a BABY there. I was laying there helping Oreo and I thought, this is what Mary endured. Someone offered her a stable!!! A STABLE. Hay and smells and dirt and unpleasant stuff and Jesus was born there. Animals all peeking in a small doorway perhaps or squeezing into corners watching.

I will NEVER be able to think of the story in the same way. In a strange sort of way, I felt the yuckiness she endured, my mind goes crazy with what could have happened. I have a good imagination. In all that has happened in the last 3-4 days in some strange way I feel closer to God, I experienced, the awesome miracle called birth and the miracle of a baby that shouldn't have survived, surviving. Even though it was in the animal kingdom they are special miracles for me. Things that let me know God is out there and cares, even for a goat named Oreo, to save her baby. That is a miracle. So you see A Baby Changes Everything

Yard is Quiet!!!!!!!

Well, things have slowed down on the farm. LOL. I actually did my late night walkthrough when I got home from church tonight. All the mommies and babies were sleeping, chickens were all bedded down for the night, guess they forgave Rowdy. Henny Penny and Sweetie Pie were giving Rowdy what for when I left for church, they were none to happy because Rowdy was eating the hay out of their nesting boxes in the barn. LOL. I couldnt' understand them but I'm sure they were saying unlady like things from the sqwaks and clucks they were sending Rowdy's way. LOL. He has a whole thing of hay but it is out in the cold. LOL. The yard was so quiet for the first time in days, it feels like years. Even Billy was being a good boy, he is either climbing or jumping into Rowdy's territory. Not sure why, unless he just likes sleeping in the barn rather than with the girls.

Tonight I was rubbing Rowdy down and Billy walks up to me, I reached out and petted him. I don't know who was more shocked me or Hillbilly. LOL. He jumped and walked off but came right back and just stood next to me to be petted. Now if you knew Billy he is as skittish as they get, he isn't mean or anything. He just isn't real friendly. I think he may be jealous of Rowdy. LOL.

Pictures of the Recent Farm Happenings.

Me and Rowdy-Mator Sunday afternoon.Rowdy-Mator
I'm in LOVE. He is too precious


Baby Sara Jayn and her new and first baby. Born Tuesday Evening Dec 9, 2008


Molly and her triplets. LOL. Born Monday, Dec 8, 2008

Baby Sara was there with her Mommy through her labor, it was so sweet they cuddled up with Molly resting her head on Sara until she started into her delivery. I took this pic of Sara watching Molly deliver her babies

Oreo is so very proud of her little girl. Lexington "Lexi" is one of the babies I'm keeping. Oreo lost her first baby about 10 months ago so this baby is special and she is taking very good care of her.

Oreo and Lexi in their house

Oreo had 2 baby girls Sunday Dec 7, 2008 but Precious, the baby on the left has alot of special issues. She was breech and I tried and tried to turn her but couldn't do it so she is the baby the vet had to deliver. Read the blogs for the whole story. Stephanie is raising her on a bottle right now.

From 4 to 10 in three days.

Friday I looked at and bought a 5 year old miniature horse named Rowdy (he’s not really rowdy that I can see so far, LOL). The only time the guy could deliver him was Sunday morning. So I stayed home Sunday morning and they delivered my horse. That wasn’t the end of the day..

All day Sunday my goat Oreo had been acting really strange. I knew she was preggers but because we got the goats from Brenda and she lost her calendar in the move I had no idea when the goats were due. Well, Phantom “Hillbilly” started attacking Rowdy and I finally figured out it was because Oreo had a new baby. The second baby was breach and so after gloving up and trying for what seemed like forever and not being able to turn the baby I called the vet. By the way I’m VERY proud of myself for taking on a yucky task like that, I didn’t know I had it in me. LOL. The vet said meet him right away at the office. When we got there he was working on a dog. Finally he came out and got Oreo finally delivered the baby and the baby had a heartbeat, it finally started breathing and she is alive. She has a lot of issues, she is blind and hasn’t really figured out the whole drink a bottle thing yet. However she’s alive for now. Well, you would think that was enough excitement for one weekend??? NOPe

Yesterday I worked on getting Oreo and Lexington a place to stay. And Molly started acting weird, she had triplets yesterday about 3pm. So I had to quickly build another shelter for Molly and her three. Plus move a fence to separate Rowdy from the goats, I was afraid Rowdy would accidently step on a baby. He liked them, he smelled of them and seem to be fine but I was worried, so the fence is up.

Today Mom calls me all in a panic. Phantom HAS to go like Yesterday. LOL. Baby Sarah is in labor. I was like there is no way, she’s only 9 months old. Well about 5:30 today Sarah had her first baby. So life on a farm is interesting. I went from 4 goats to 10 in 3 days. Needless to say I’m tired and headed to bed early. We’ve had sleet and snow all evening. Biggest flakes I’ve ever seen. The winds blowing so hard it won’t be here come morning.

Hop you enjoyed this little peek into the farm. LOL.

Taniss

Molly is now in labor

Yeah, walked out today and Molly is in labor. Go figure. Yesterday about killed me and we are getting to start it all over again. Great!!!

Baby #1 is doing good, she is up walking around and learning about being a baby goat. Baby #2 is not as healthy, she had a pretty bad start in life she was born with a heartbeat but the vet had a hard time getting her to breath. Now she is doing better but she isn't to the level of the first one. Stephanie is raising this one and I baby sit when she is working. LOL, So right now Precious is laying in a box next to me. She is indeed Precious!!!

I'm home today, not sure if I have a stomache virus or if the stress and everything was too much for me yesterday but I am not feeling well today, that is for sure!!!

That is the update for now, I'm taking a short nap before bottle time for Precious. Rowdy Mator is doing good, he's a little confused as to what is going on but he's a trouper!!!

A Incredibly Intense Day on the Farm

We had quite a day on the farm today. I am sick with a stomach virus and covered in mucus and blood from a goat. My blood pressure is through the roof. But what a day full of miracles and blessings.

It started with Rowdy Mator arriving first thing. He settled right in and made himself at home with with the hay. I combed his mane and they got his halter on him. The family was happy with how he just settled in. Everyone watched to make sure he and the goats could co-exist in the yard. Mom put the dogs out and suddenly all the commotions going on and there had been chickens hiding in the yard and my girls went after them. People came running from all directions of the house and yards. One is minus a bunch of feathers but all are OK. We went inside, I tried to eat lunch and my tummy didn't want too so, I sampled my food and gave up.

Robert came by in the late afternoon and asked if I was aware that Hill-Billy was being really mean and aggressive to Rowdy Mator. I went out to do yard control and I put a lead ..dy Mator and Robert corralled Hill-Billy in the dog yard. I was getting ready to release Rowdy Mator and Robert goes, "Hey Taniss, did you know there is a baby goat" Of course I didn't and sure enough there was a wee goat. Long story short, Oreo had twins, the second one was coming one leg and she couldn't have the baby. I gloved up and (sorry to the girlie girls reading this, this is life on the farm) was elbow deep in goat, yeah, the baby was breech. I tried and tried and tried to get the baby to turn and I was praying and to my frustration I couldn't do it. My aunt came over and she couldn't even get her hand in. So I called the vet and he said come here and so Stephanie and Brenda went in Brenda's truck with Oreo in Stephanie's lap and Mom drove my car with me holding the first baby. It took the vet awhile and lots of strength to turn the baby. When I had tried it felt like the baby was in a ball and the vet said I was correct. When he delivered the baby Brenda motioned for me because I was outside the room trying to keep the baby quiet. The newly delivered baby wasn't breathing but it had a heartbeat, I thought I was going to pass out from relief. I had already been shaking all over from trying to deliver the baby myself. The vet roughed the baby up and it finally sneezed and started breathing. For a while it was more touch than go and the baby had a neurological twitch which was bad but after patting and rubbing and talking to the baby she seemed to gain some strength. He gave Oreo some shots for different things and we paid him and off we went back home Stephanie in my backseat with Oreo and Mom driving and me holding 2 very precious bundles. We got home got them back in the yard and Oreo was exhausted and still having contractions, she bathed the babies and Lexington ate dinner, LOL, but Precious was still having some issues. She wasn't trying to eat or stand she wanted to sleep and that wasn't good because of the rough time she had being born. I mixed up the Colostrum and Stephanie got her to eat a little from the bottle. I was exhausted, sick and filthy, Brenda said not to stress she would make it or else she wouldn't. Stephanie said that baby was going to LIVE. She took her out to her house and she is taking care of her overnight to make sure she doesn't have any complications because of the delay in delivering her. When Stephanie headed home Precious seemed to be doing well, she was trying to push up and she had drank a little bit more. It's all those prayers we prayed. I'm sure Stephanie will get laughs for many days to come because I was screaming praying like God was hard of hearing. LOL. He wasn't because He helped us.
Because of all of this Billy is in the dog yard still so the dogs couldn't go out to potty so all 4 dogs had to be walked out front on a leash.

That is a crazy day in farm life. I love all my babies but right now I'm laying here still shaking, I've taken by BP pill and the room isn't quite so strange and I'm trying to chill. I still need a shower but when you are this tired and relieved and tired, you just don't care!!!
Oh, add to that Regina had to go to the hospital she was having contractions too. LOL. Haven't heard how she's doing yet.

All seems quiet on the farm and I'm headed to a shower and bed now, with a badly bruised foot from being stepped on by a 300lb mini horse. LOL. I thought it was broken at first but it may be sprained or just badly bruised, it's not swollen anymore and I can walk on it.
I'm signing off, Molly B is due any day...Anyone want delivery duty??? It's magical seeing that tiny baby that would almost just fit in your hand. Birth is such a miracle!!!

Adding to our Farm Family

This is the newest addition to our Farm Family. A miniature horse named Rowdy, he is so sweet that I hate to call him that so since he is Gavin's horse we asked for a new name and it's Mator after the Tow Truck in Cars. I tried for Lightening McQueen but that didn't work. I guess Gavin's fav is the Tow Man. LOL.

So Mator it is and is seems so sweet and tame. I went and checked him out and he comes from a homeschool family. I thought that funny. The son had been working with him to pull a cart so I will be looking into Carts soon. The son also had him bowing and kneeling so I'm going to have to keep that up. He seemed to be an affectionate horse so hopefully he is.

He's 5 years old and I've decided that he may be a Light Cheasnut. He's about 8.1 or 2 hands high.

Well, we are still waiting on the baby goats to be born. So far nothing. Poor Molly B looks like she is about to pop!!! Hopefully very soon.