Well, it's been a while since I've written, we have really been busy. We have some new boarders in The Takota Barn, a mare in for training and have been squeezing a group trail ride in at least once a week. Not to mention we still have many projects to work on in the Takota Barn, and fields that need plowed, planted etc. We have had two calves born, both about 3 weeks early. The first one needed minimal help and is out running in the pasture with the herd. The second one...well she is our little miracle. Her mother started into labor early in the am. We kept a close eye on her since this would be her first. We noticed that she could not progress past just being able to push the tips of the front feet out. We were questioning if the calf was not presenting in a normal position. After a cow is in labor over an hour you are to try to assist her, well after many hours of her pushing and getting nowhere but also not letting us get close enough to help we were able to get her into a stall and assist. I was on the phone with the vet many times throughout the day for advice. She advised me that after such an extended time in labor that the calf is definatly going to need assistance in getting out and that we probably would not be dealing with a live calf. So with each contraction we tried to assist. Jimmy was able to break the sack and grab ahold of the feet but could not pull it out. We got twine to wrap around the feet and again pulled with each contraction, still not able to get it out. Called for help, so now my brother in law and father in law are also pulling with Jimmy. They finally pulled the front feet, head and chest out. The calf was absolutly hugh and ALIVE. She was covered in muconium ( a sign the calf was in distress) We cleared her airway, applied lubrication to help get her the rest of the way out. Again all three guys pulled with each contraction but could not get the calves pelvis to pass. We finally had to hook her to the wench on the Polaris and pull. That finally got her out. The mom had some tearing and was exhausted, the calf was breathing on her own. We cleaned and dried her, took care of the mom and waited. She had been in active labor well over 8 hours. We weren't sure how this was going to end. I ran and got some colostrum in case we needed it. When I got back you could tell the calf never moved and definatly did not nurse. Mom was up and had been cleaning her trying to get her up. We gave her a bottle with the colostrum, ( I'm surprised mom let us in to handle the calf) we started noticing that the calf would not use it's back leggs at all. She would draw them in towards her but could not extend or bear any weight. It was as if the was paralyzed. This went on for two more days. We bottle fed her, tried to work her legs as much as possible and turned her from side to side with still no sign of any use of the back legs. The third day I opened the door, the mom left, came back and called the calf over and over, the calf made no attempts to try to follow. We seperated them and resigned ourselves to the fact that she would not survive. I snuck down much later that night, gave her another bottle, cried ( I had become so attached to her) did my routine of working her back legs and prayed. After many calls to the vet we all pretty much decided she must have a spinal cord injury. I went to bed with a very heavy heart. The next morning I went through my routine of feeding the horses but left the cows for Jimmy, I just couldn't look at the calf knowing this was her last day. While in The Takota Barn feeding, Jimmy came in and told me to go make a bottle. I asked if she was moving her back leggs, he said she was trying to stand. Anything in my way got run over as I ran to the house to make a bottle. I went in the stall, we tried to get her up, she was still extremely weak in the hind end, we held her up with us doing 90% of the holding, but it was more than she had done so far and she chugged her whole bottle. We worked her back leggs and left her rest. Came back a couple hours later and repeated the whole process. By the end of the day we had to get her up but she would stand all on her own. We couldn't believe it. I sent a picture to the vet via my cell phone, she called me back, none of use could believe it. I asked that since mom had not been nursed on since birth ( over 3 days) and had been seperated from the calf was it possible to try and get her to nurse still. She said it will be painfull for the mom but that maternal instinct is really strong and to give it a try. We brought mom in, had to stand the calf lead her over and put her on but it worked. It was a sight none of us thought we'd see. After two days of not having to assist in any way I went down and opened the door. Mom wanted out bad, she went to the run in and called. The calf went out and was trying to run and jump. I was all by myself crying and laughing at the same time. I knew she needed sunshine and exercise to keep going. I opened the gate to the run in, mom went out right away, called the calf but she just didn't understand how to step down out of the barn. I helped her out, she wasn't sure what to do. Mom kept walking out and calling the calf. Well the calf would only go forward when I did so here we were, mom, me and the calf headed out to pasture. We got down to the herd, they all greeted her, and mom was very watchful and ready to protect. I was so happy, I started back up to the barn well here comes the calf, totally following me and not listening to her mom bawling for her. I stopped, she came right up and acted like she did when I bottle fed her. I kept having to turn her around and try to run up without her. I almost just let her follow me, I felt so bad. But I knew her place and the absolute best thing for her was to be with her mom. Jimmy checked on her the rest of the day I didn't want to complicate things. The next day he couldn't find her, I panicked went for the Polaris and into the pasture. I wasn't 20 feet in when I saw her, she stood, I went over and just loved her. Her mom came running up the hill, she let me touch her and the calf a while then they both wondered back to the herd. It's times like this that leave me totally speechless and confirm that God is all around us. We just have to open our eyes and see the miracles that happen every day.
Happy Trails,
Tracy
Hello again, I'm writing while on break. I am currently working the emergancy room tonight 3-11. Although our primary job is on the helicopter, every six weeks or so they have us rotate through the ER. We respond with a medically equipped truck to all "Z" calls ( vehicle accident with entrappment,cardiac arrest, statis seizure etc) or whenever a paramedic needs assistance. When not on calls we work the ER assisting with patient care. Besides the ER physicians and anesthesia we are the only other authorized personnell that can perform intubations, & central lines. Our ER is pretty busy most of the time and very large compared to other ER's. The crews working the helicopter just flew a trauma patient in. He fell many feet and has multiple facial fractures. Super nice patient with a great supportive family. I hope he does well, he's headed to the OR I'm sure. We just had a car drive up to the ER entrance with a young girl who was in a snowboarding accident. We collared her, put her on a LSB with all precautions. She looked totally fine but we assume the worst until proven otherwise. Well it definatly paid off this time she has a burst fracture in her neck, but she'll live to walk again thank God. She's a sweet girl with her head on straight. In the meantime, we've had suicide attempts, hip fractures, prescription drug overdose, allergic reactions and much more.
I woke this morning to several inches of snow. It was beautiful. It took me longer than usual to feed the barns, I kept stopping and taking pictures, yes I'm a picture nut too. After turning everyone out, I cleaned the Takota barn and decided to put cordless drill to work. I'm trying to finish up putting screws in the frame of the last 11 stalls. Got allot of that done then went over to the house to shovel the sidewalk. My son Justin was charged with cleaning the trail barn today. Jimmy came home around 9:30 am and set out on the polaris with a plow attached to clear all driveways and paths between all barns. Poor guy he really has a bad head/chest cold. But he won't sit still for any reason. So after shoveling the sidwalk, I went in to make some lunch ( tomatoe soup and toasted cheese sandwhiches) Then decided to perm my hair....it is so thin and really needed something done. But that's a whole other story. Got ready for work, and here I am. Well, I better get backto the ER.
Have a great day!
Hi, hope everyone had a safe New Years Eve. Being the party animal I am...I was in bed by 9pm, Jimmy soon followed. ( I think he is getting sick..rare for him) But life on the farm, we usually follow the early to bed early to rise theme. Jimmy was up and out the door to work at MedSTAR 2 today in Hastings. I soon followed and set out to feed all three barns. It is super windy here today and expected to only get worse throughout the day. So after all Horses, cows, dogs, cats, duck,& goose get their breakfast I headed out on the polaris to check fence to make sure no trees had blown on it. While walking from the cow barn to the house I passed our Lilac trees, they actually have buds on them. This weather has been so screwy, I hope they somehow make it through the winter without getting bit. I love all the Lilac trees and bushes we have. From the moment they start blooming I fill the house and tack rooms in the barns. they smell so good. We also have many apple trees ( free horse & cow treats) Peach trees, Cherry, Chestnut & plum trees along with raspberry and blueberrybushes. Jimmies grandmothers family ( Sarah Ford, hence the name Ford Acres) were the original owners. I know they put many a long day and hours into this farm and all crops. And we are still reeping the benefits. We too have put so much time and money into trying to make and keep this farm in good condition. We recently planted ofer 300 trees in certain pasture sections. They are great for shade and wind break for the animals plus good erosion control banking the stream that runs through the pasture. We have done tons of new fencing and added 4 watering troughs that can be accessed by every pasture/paddock area. The water comes from artisions springs/wells and flows better than we could ever hope for. So after everyone had time to eat their breakfast I set out to turn them all out. Once that was done I started cleaning the Takota barn. Got that done and headed to the house to get some breakfast of my own. I'll soon be heading back out into this windy day to clean the Trail barn and get everything set up to bring everyone in for their evening feed. It can be a long exhausting day but it's a good exhaustion! You can see the results immedialty of all your hard work. It is defiantly what keeps me in balance sometimes. Dealing with life and death situations at work can wear ya down. But seeing my animals happy and healthy & trusting just seems to flip a switch in me letting me know that all is right in the world. Well I've rambled enough today. Hope everyone has a happy, healthy & prosperous 2008. Be positive, your life is what you make it!
Tracy