RUG HOOKING BLOG

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I'm a mother of four grandmother of seven and great grandmother of three. I live with my husband in the house that we built with the help of my brothers and will have been married for 57 years this February.

Friday, May 27, 2011

WHAT A MORNING IT'S BEEN!

We had a thunderstorm early this morning and I hadn't slept well. I had spasms in my back and had to put the Magic Bag on it to relax the spasms in my  muscles. I could hear the rain and then just as I was falling asleep again it started to thunder and it sounded close. I got out of bed to unplug my computer and turn the switch bar off the other and went back to bed. I just laid there in bed feeling tired until 7:30 am.

I got dress and skipped breakfast for now and got going. I was half an hour late getting out and  went to feed the birds before  going to the barn and when I got there the cats were waiting at the door for me as usual, to feed them. I gave grain to Rosebud and I was going to the other side of the barn to get milk for her when I heard  a loud painful moan and high pitch cry from the cow that was put in the calving pen yesterday.

 There was no indication that she was going to calve so soon. She  was temporarily put in that pen while they moves some cows and heifers in the pasture yesterday and she was supposed to go in the back this morning.  Normally I can tell when they are about to calve, but this one showed no sign.

I almost forgot to mention that someone had forgotten to close the little gate in the barn and the cows got into everything and made a huge mess all over the floor. They tore the big round bale of bedding hay by the door and knocked things off the wall and hooks and pooped all over the place, ate the little bit of fish and chicken dry cat food that was left in their bowl, ate all Rosebud grain.

All this could have been avoided if someone would only remember the importance of closing the little gate when they use it. Sometimes they plan to return through that gate and change their mind and keep going and forget to close the damed gate.

Back to my poor mama cow. She was screaming like I never heard a calving cow scream. It wasn't a mooo. She was laying down and wasn't letting up. I saw that the water sac wasn't broken and I could see the head and the front feet in the sack. I hate going in the pen with the cows but I did. First I put a little bit of hay down as she had pooped all over the place right where the calf was coming out. Then I tore the membrane from the calf face and called my son. He's never in a hurry.

 All this time the cow is screaming like a cow in deep pain.  I called my husband as I know that my son will drink his coffee before he comes. I needed help right now as the calf wasn't moving at all. I stared to pull and since it was a small calf she came out half way and the stupid cow got up whipping me around and I had to let the calf go.

 She backed herself in the corner and I couldn't pull the calf out but it was hanging upside down and still not moving. Fortunately I could go outside the pen and stick my arm in there and pull the mucus and bubbles that were draining out of her mouth and nostrils. I was so glad that she was hanging upside down as liquid was draining the very best this way. Normally they lift the calf upside  down on the cow's back to drain the mucus. But at this point the calf still wasn't moving it's head. I thought that it was dead.

Finally there's a sign of the little head faintly moving. A good sign. Then a little more. The calf is alive. My husband arrive at this point and asked me to put some grain in the manger to make the cow go forward so I can lock her head in the locking gate and he tugged on the calf and it falls down. Then my husband left to finish his breakfast and I have to put fresh hay in the pen. At this point the mother is busy licking her little baby.

I just wish that I had someone follow me to the barn with a video sometimes for some interesting footage, lol...
Here she is the little muffin. At first she couldn't stand up at all.


There she is about half and hour later.  Sorry about the mother's rear. She was too tired to get up.


There's the mama having a drink after the traumatic experience of giving birth.



This is the pen where the new baby will go.



This is Rosebud, she has a little pink rosette so I called her Rosebud. She's all alone in the nursery and has a larger pen.  She's quite spunky and kicks her heels a lot.


This dirty girl is Football. It looks like she just came from the muddy football field. She getting big. 
Thanks for dropping by my blog and leaving a comment.  JB



11 comments:

  1. Oh my word Julia girl!! I hope you go back to bed and sleep til tomorrow morn! What a morning and you posted about it so calmly..... ( except for the damned gate! LOL!
    Glad the baby and mother are fine!
    A very good farm wife you are Julia and I hope the angels are watching the amazing things you do!
    An exciting and wonderful post!
    Cathy G

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  2. Wow, Julia you are amazing! I feel sorry for the calf and the mama cow. I just back from Kohls I bought myself a top. I hate shopping for clothes I would rather use my money on wool or gardening plants or planter mix. Lol Cheri

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  3. Oh my.....what a morning. I was so worried while I was reading that the calf wouldn't make it. I'm glad momma and baby are fine. You should get your own reality series!

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  4. ok what is a magic pillow for your back. and I am exaused just reading this.those farm men need to worship the ground you walk on for what you do.
    cathy

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  5. What a morning you had! Hope your back feels better soon! Sweet little baby calf!

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  6. Oh, my! Such excitement first thing in the morning! I can't imagine doing the work you do on the farm. Dear lady, you have my highest respect!

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  7. You are really quite amazing! I love all the stories you share about the calves, but this one was very exciting. The little ones are so cute, but a lot of work, too, I imagine. I hope your back feels better soon.
    Hugs,
    Courtney

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  8. I amazed at your good nature because Lordy you never know what adventure greets you each morning. So apparently the barn gate must be like the toilet seat....men don't know how to close or put down either.
    Luckily it had a happy ending. You are one tough lady!

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  9. Wow what a morning. As you were describing your morning I could see it all in my head because I have been there so many times. I even grimaced when I read that someone had left the gate open and the cows got into the feed and hay. There is just so much that happens when you have cows.
    I am so glad the calf ended up being okay. The Momma too. I have never heard a cow scream either.
    I bet is was scary.
    I hope your back gets better soon. Nothing worse than having a bad back.
    Take care this weekend Julia.

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  10. Thanks everyone for your comments.

    Cathy from Acorn Hollow asked about the Magic Bag. It's a sturdy cloth bag that is filled with oats and sewn as a little pillow that you heat in the microwave for about 2 minutes and you put it on your hurts and pains etc. or you can also put it in the freezer and use it as a cold compress. I also have a long skinny one that I use on my neck sometimes. If you google Magic Bag I'm sure that you'd get a picture of it. JB

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  11. it all sounds familiar! i think you did excellent. Mommy is doing fine, baby looks healthy sooooo GOOD JOB!

    Thanks
    Leontien

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