It’s a BOY GIRL!

This is Daisy’s third calf!.

She was due to calve on May 19 or 20.  Those days slid right by with nothing more than a little clear discharge appearing from her back end.

I spent the next 12 days studying her rear half, lady parts, pin bones and overall demeanor searching for a clue as to when the baby was going to make his appearance.

About the 6th day of constant surveillance, I threw up my hands and decided I needed to return to life.

I told God that HE was bigger than this cow, this birth and had all of these worries of mine in his hands.

I went about life and shipped children all over God’s green earth for immunizations, drug testing, TB tests, eye doctor appointments, dentists, church, and where ever else they needed to go.

It would have been so great to film the birth for the next homesteading video – but the universe did not want that to happen.  And I have 4 children and a husband who need me to do something besides watch the cow.

What is wrong with them?

I was at church when the baby came.  I am the leader of the senior girls in our high school ministry.  We meet every Wednesday to hang out, eat dinner and laugh.  I love them so much.

While I was at church with my sweet group of (soon to be) graduates, I texted DH to go check on my cow.  I hadn’t examined her backside since before I took the kids (all 4) to the dentist earlier that day.  That was around 2:00.

DH went up to the cow field saw Daisy standing in the woods and texted me,

“She’s fine.  She’s standing in the woods.”

I then questioned, “What does her backside look like?”

We ladies, want to know these things, dadgummit.

He returned, “Don’t know – wasn’t close enough.”

To which I nagged, “Go look.”

Really I wanted pictures, but am doing my best to keep the peace in the house.  I realize that I am a freak about the cow’s va-ja-ja right now and everyone is tired of hearing about it (and seeing it).

I didn’t know if he’d go back up to the cow field for a closer look or not, and I was busy in worship so I kinda forgot about it.  She was already 12 days late and she was showing no signs of delivery any time soon.

Nothing about her body had changed.

She had been leaking clear mucus for 12 days.  Her pins looked like they did 5 days ago.  She was happy, eating, drinking, and acting normal.

I had spoken to my vet more times than I am sure he cares to chat with me.  Bless his heart.  He just kept saying “that all sounds normal to me.”

I wouldn’t blame him if he started charging me for phone calls.

The only part of her body that was showing signs of development was her udder.  It was getting to the point that we thought it might explode.

Our HighSchool Minister had asked a couple of the leaders to pray on stage at the end of the service for the outgoing seniors.  I was one of them.

The schedule looked like this:

• a time of worship (songs)
• a short message
• communion & reflection time
• and then I was to head to the stage with my seniors to pray

I was gathering my thoughts.  I was mentally noting all the things I wanted to share, and pray concerning their lives, futures, and walks.   It was an honor to be one of the folks to pray for these beautiful young adults and plead on their behalf as they transitioned into adulthood.

This is when I get the text from DH…

At the end of communion (right before my call to the stage to pray), I get a picture of a calf from DH.

What the What!!?

FUN FACT –  I can talk in front of anyone.  During my career before becoming a mommy, I was the Director of Training for a nationwide ISP.  I talked in front of hundreds.

Talking in front of large groups does not bother me.

Praying in front of people stresses me out.

So, I am about to pray in front of roughly 100 people.

And DH sends me the picture of the new calf.   [Who was 12 days late, by the way]

My body was filled with adrenalin, I was anxious to get home and see the new baby, I wanted to see if she had the afterbirth, and a million other things.

My mind was in orbit.

But onto the stage, I marched.

I couldn’t tell you how the prayer went.

After the sending the seniors off I rushed home to see the new addition before it got too dark.

Unfortunately, it was pretty much pitch black by the time I arrived home.

Dark will not stop an excited, worried, milk-cow mommy.

Daisy and baby were doing fine.

He she is the most adorable thing I have ever seen (of course, I say this about every new calf).

I have been watching Daisy closely for milk fever.  Jerseys are famous for it.

It usually strikes cows when they are 6 years old or older.  Daisy is 4, but I am still watching her closely.

Milk fever is caused by a calcium deficiency.  All the calcium in those momma-cows body’s goes straight to the udder to get the milk factory running.  When calcium levels plummet to minuscule levels it is very dangerous for the mama cow.

When a cow has milk fever it can be easily treated with calcium.

This morning I went to the field to check on Daisy.  Morning is usually when you find a cow with milk fever down.  When I arrived at her pasture she did not come.  I called and there was no Daisy.

I banged on her feed bucket – still no Daisy.

I jumped the fence and trotted immediately to the woods to find her.

As I approached the woodline I could see her standing perky looking at me.  I told her breakfast was ready and glanced around for her calf (Tiger).

Tiger was nowhere to be found.  I figured Daisy had hidden him in a corner or behind a tree.  I tromped through the squishy ground looking for the little furball.

No calf.

If you want to strengthen your relationship with God, get some farm animals.

I begin to walk the fenceline and pray.  I am looking for the calf or blood.  I am worried that a pack of coyotes or some other horrible creature has ravaged my sweet baby.

After determining that Tiger was indeed not in the woods with his mama, I headed straight for the run-in.  At this point, I am scolding Daisy for not keeping up with her child.  Good grief, where is he?  Do you even know?  Who is watching him?  He is 1 day old!  You can’t just walk off into the woods and leave him unsupervised.

There was no baby cow in the run-in.

Now I’m panicking.

Where the heck is my baby?  He’s not THAT small.  This pasture is not THAT big.

Daisy – why aren’t you keeping track of him?

I am doing circles, scanning the entire field, and at this point, Daisy is following me around wondering what I’m looking for.

I finally spotted a light brown fuzz behind the water trough.  Tiger had tucked himself between Daisy’s watering tank and the fenceline (on the opposite end of the pasture from the woods where Daisy was).

Running up to him, I gave him a stroke to make sure he was breathing.  In response, he briefly opened one eye and then fell back asleep.

Daisy had breakfast and all was once again right with the world.

I am questioning her mothering abilities but giving her some grace since this is the first time in her life she has been allowed to keep her calf.

I’m sure she’ll get the hang of it.

And honestly, she probably knew where he was all along.

There is nothing like a baby cow.  So dang precious.

God is so good.  I am grateful.

XO,

Candi