The Most Fun EVER

Today, for the first time in, well, never mind how many years, let's just say the first time in my life, I met a new challenge and had a blast doing it. The stable where I board organized a gymkhana. I know what gymkhana is but had never attended one, never watched one, and certainly never participated in one. Ever the good sport hahaha, I decided to join in on the fun.

The day started out with the PeeWee class and a few of us "horse savvy" adults leading the little guys on their ponies through the events. It was hot, but I led little Sydney around on her pony Dakota, at a jog or brisk walk through the flags, the poles, the barrels, and the egg race (you carry an egg on a spoon in one hand, reins in the other, around a pattern). The little cowpokes did very well and, surprise surprise, we had a four-way tie for First.

I had decided to ride Fanta since I knew she was pretty good going Western and neck reins beautifully. First the poles, next the flags, followed by the barrels, and finally the egg race. Being a bit of a "nervous novice" but still pretty competitive, we completed the events with pretty good scores including a Third, a Fourth, and a FIRST place finish in the egg race. They're all timed events so you want to be moving your horse along pretty good but the egg race requires steadiness and balance so you don't drop your egg. When the day was done and we gathered to hand out prizes, First and Second overall went to a husband and wife who do gymkhana frequently. Third place went to ME. Yahooo!

Happy Trails ... Theresa

Babies, babies everywhere

Day 8, and I cannot believe how much the puppies have grown. Each of them have put on at least 10 oz. That's like adding another whole puppy. Hannah also looks wonderful and is maintaining her weight too. Little "Missy" is the go-getter and is no longer doing the turtle walk but trying to get herself up on teetering legs to get about the pool. The copper on the tri's is really coming out and they're going to be beautiful.

The rest of the baby population explosion carries on outside in the farmyard with the arrival of 20 lambs in just under a week, including our first set of triplets. Just another nine ewes to go and we're finished. Hmmmm, I wonder what it'll be like to get a full night's sleep? Lamb watch is exhausting.

Here's another video clip of the puppies at eight days old. I apologize for all of Hannah's slurping. As soon as I bring out the camera she decides it's a great time to take care of business for the puppies. The heavy breathing is also hers!

For a larger screen version, click the link here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZwIrKS_h0

Happy Trails ... Theresa

They're wiggle butts now

The babies are now officially known as "wigglebutts". Aussies, wigglebutts 'cuz there's no tail to wag. Gaining and growing, I cannot believe how much they've already filled out. Hannah is so relaxed and being a great mom. She came out with me this morning to check the ewes and sure enough, there was a newborn lamb. Mom, "Fiona" delivered in the shed, thank goodness, as it's pouring rain outside. Strong little boy, cute as anything. It would be nice if the rest held off until the rain lets up.

This is a snippet of the puppies and mama, everyone enjoying lunch.

Happy Trails ... Theresa

P.S. Just came back from my 5:00 "patrol" to find another newborn lamb, in the shelter. Pretty weak, though, little stick legs don't want to hold him up and he's cold. Thank goodness we bought that nice big horse trailer. Not only did it double as a walk-in cooler this winter when friends gave me several beef (dog food) but it's making a dandy nursery for mama and little lamb. It's closed in, shavings on the floor, and they're both warm and dry. I milked mama and got 8 oz of milk into the baby from a bottle, and he's already working on standing up and nursing on his own. Have I mentioned that it's still pouring rain?

The Stork Has Landed

Surprise, surprise. I didn't think Hannah was going to whelp on Jody's predicted due date, but I didn't expect her to not whelp on my predicted date, either. Puppies were born late this afternoon and early evening, Monday May 19th. Eight beautiful babies, 5 boys and 3 girls. Two reds, six blacks, bi's and tri's. Mama and babies doing VERY well. They're a content, nicely quiet, strong, satisfied little bunch of babies. And BIG, too. More like German Shepherds than Aussies. The first weighed a whopping 16 oz, with the smallest at 13.5 oz (hardly a lightweight).

Happy Little Tails ... Theresa

Mary's nothin' but a show off

Not wanting to let Hannah steal all the baby thunder this week, Mary, one of my best ewes, decided that today would be a better day to have her babies instead of next week when they should have arrived. Guess nobody showed her calendar. Out in the middle of the field, in the warm late afternoon sunshine, she delivered two healthy twins, a ewe lamb and a ram lamb.

After baby #1 arrived I held her in a towel and walked backwards all the way up into my lambing pens. Mama followed, baa-baa-ing all the way. Settled baby in the straw and went to get my lambing supplies. Baby #2 was just sliding out as I returned. Both lambs struggled to get up right away, both nursing within half an hour. Now, if the other 19 could only go as easy, I'll be laughing.

Earlier in the afternoon, I took Hannah outside with me when I went out to do one of my monthly chores ... clean the automatic horse waterers. They tend to get a little slimy so I scrape them down and bail the water out with a pail, before they refill all nice and clean. It was pretty hot, we reached 30 C this afternoon, and I had to keep leading Hannah back over to some shade. Just as I finished the waterer in the sheep pen, she stepped up on the wooden box in front of it, stepped right into the rubber tub, and laid down in the water to cool off her hot belly. Such a smart mama.

FOUR MORE SLEEPS!

Happy Trails ... Theresa

Weight Watchers, or is it "Wait" Watchers?

I've never been one to obsess about my weight. Hannah's weight is another matter, and I'm totally obsessed with that. She's up another pound and a half this week, for a total of 57 lb 8 oz, but her tummy is up another full inch and a half. That's a lot of growth in a week! Even the girls in the vet clinic were surprised at how large she's looking. They want me to x-ray her so we'll know how accurate their digital images are but really, there's no point. Remember last time? Seven on ultrasound, seven on x-ray, 12 in the whelping pool. I'm still guessing 10 and I think I'd like four girls and six boys.

Today was the first day she didn't want to hop up into the van on her own.

She was funny last night and whined and whimpered and looked at us for some kind of help or sympathy or to make next week hurry up and get here. If we walked away from her, she whined. I took her outside for a nice walk in the cool air and then she settled down. Hmmm, probably some bratty little puppy kicking her in the ribs.

Today, stuck to me like velcro. She'd ask to go out and when I'd open the door she'd step her front feet out, turn around and see that I wasn't joining her, and back up into the house again. She even came to my riding lesson. She was really worked up that I was going out and she wasn't coming. She's definitely got my number. So she came, and just rested in a cool spot and watched the world (and horses) go by. I think she's figuring these babies might try to sneak up on her and she's not going to be alone for it.

SEVEN more sleeps!

Happy Trails ... Theresa

But I have cravings!!

That's the answer I get when I remind Hannah that she just finished eating. And eating again.

Into the vet's today for our weekly weigh-in. First off, you realize she's not actually seeing the vet, right? Vets don't monitor a canine pregnancy the way a physician would monitor a human mommy. I'm just obsessive about things, wanting to be sure that she has a nice steady weight gain. And she's not disappointing me in that department. She's up another 2-1/2 pounds for a total of 56 lb today. When I look at her records from last pregnancy, she was 54 lb on Day 50 with a total gain to that point of 9 lb 7 oz. Today (Day 50), she's at 56 lb, for a total gain of 8 lb 8 oz, so about a pound lighter. Tummy circumference is 30" (that's like 3" in just over a week!) My guess? She's having TEN puppies. As for you people who guessed FIFTEEN, go stand in the corner.

She is starting to resemble a goat, though. You know, slightly visible spine along the topline and then these heavy sides hanging below. She's also developing a bit of a waddle when she walks, very attractive from the back.

Fourteen more sleeps (maybe 13).

Happy Trails ... Theresa

Webcam, eh? Not likely, but I'm certainly thinking of video and uploading to YouTube.