Tail Wagging Farm

Wow, April has been so crazy here!  I have hardly been home this month.  On the first, Powder died and we had a sick baby goat we were watching.  Someone was literally up in the living room all night with her, feeding her every time she woke up.  It took a couple of days but she finally started to catch on to the whole "eating from a bottle" concept.  We made a spreadsheet and logged her feedings to make sure she was getting enough milk each day.

  Immediately as this crisis was resolving, my dad was informed on Monday the 5th he would need to be at the VA for aortic valve replacement on Wednesday the 7th!  We spent that Wednesday night in the ICU waiting room.  (By the way, the carpeted floor of the VA is not a nice place to sleep.) Thursday I went home.  He just did not seem to be getting better as the week passed.  Then the following Wednesday the doctors realized that he had fluid around his heart in excess.  So...back in for another surgery on Thursday!  I had convinced my mom to come home on the 15th to sleep and shower.  We went back up on the 16th just as visiting hours opened.  While my mom and I were standing there, he went into respiratory distress and they called a code blue.  I can honestly say that I have never been so scared in my life.  We were shoved out of ICU by a tiny little nurse.  I honestly would not have thought she had that much strength!  Obviously, the ending was okay or my story would have a different line!   So back on the VA floor, with my brothers popping into Texas for love and support.  We took turns sleeping up there again.  We were on the 5th floor and looking out at the night lights of Houston lighting the skyline!  On Tuesday the 20th, my mom sent me home to sleep.  And I did!  She suggested that I take Wednesday off too, to go to Church and spend time with my family and buy goat feed!  My son R called into the house on Wednesday the 21st saying "Serrano had a baby...you might want to come outside!"

  I went outside and Serrano was in labor with another baby.  After all that happened with Powder, I was feeling very ill prepared.  I felt though, and found the baby had a PERFECT presentation.  Serrano gave a couple of pushes and then decided to stand.  When she did, the baby slid back inside and the head fell back.  I tried to get the presentation back but could not.  I called the Fs and they came over.  L tried and could not do it either so off we went.  B called Texas A&M Large  Animal Clinic and told them we were on the way.  My brother rode in the back of the van with Serrano who had baby feet sticking out of her!  I rode with my sister-in-love feeling sick all the way.  It was so much like what happened with Powder, it was scary.  We got there and 2 vets tried and were unable to maneuver the baby.  Dr. Mulon had to do a C-section.  I had read nothing that gave me any hope that a c-section would be successful.  I was scared.  The baby died but Serrano was okay.  I sat outside crying because I was worried for Serrano yet sad that I had not realized it could be successful for Powder's sake.  I also felt so guilty because, while I was glad Serrano was okay, I wished in my heart that it was Powder who was okay.  All this was Wednesday.  I did not get home in time for church.  (And just to see a funny side of something, when I got to A&M we gave them the wrong goat's name.  Her previous owner had mixed Serrano and Pequinn's names up. So we called her Pequinn (Pe-ken-yah) for about 5 months.  I happened to look closely at their certificates one day and realized the truth.  I called the Fs who were the original owners to get clarification.  So while she was laying on the gurney I called her Serrano and Pequinn alternately.  The tech looked at me funny.) 

Thursday I went and stayed the night at the VA.  Dad was in Step down by this time and so I got to sleep on a couch/chair/cot.  I woke up Friday morning and my daughter S called and  told me that Pequinn (Serrano's sister) had 3 babies overnight!  Her one girl looks just like her sister's girl.

Saturday,  we went to pick up Serrano.  She is doing wonderful.  All the baby goats are doing well.

Sunday was uneventful.

Monday my dad came home.   

I hope things get on a more even keel now.  I have a K, Sylvy and Glory who may kid any day now.  I will post pictures of the new babies as soon as I can.