Olivia had a little Gem - Opal

This tiny little Mother is Olivia and she is one of the triplets from Esmeralda last year grouping. I had so hoped she had not gotten bred but I guess my billy can do amazing things through the fence. Anyway it was to late to change things and Monday afternoon she was starting into labor and she was not too quite about it.. She took a very long time to progress in her labor and I was worried we might have a repeat of Monica's delivery. Just as I was getting out all the gear for a problem delivery out pops the very all together baby girl. Screaming and standing the moment she touched the ground.

I quickly sat down and just reminded myself to take a breath or two.. Olivia was really dazed and did not even look at the baby. I started holding my breath again. Crap - no she is not going to do this to this girl. The baby was walking and talking and looking for food. Olivia went to work on pawing the straw - that is a great sign. After an hour of doing that all over the pen and digging up four inches of straw and still not letting this girl nurse I was really getting over the edge nervous. I went in and grabbed Olivia and tried to get the little girl to nurse but she was not going to do it. When I let go of Olivia the baby went right back to trying to nurse. I had to go outside the barn and count to about 100 before stepping back in. Three hours of sitting on my hands and still Olivia was just pawing the straw and moving every time the baby started to get under her.

I decided to go back into the house and give a bottle to the one sitting in the bathroom and make room for another addition. I called my Mother to let her know of the new arrival and then talked to myself as I walked back to the barn. I kept hoping upon hope that she would get it together. She was a daughter of the Devil Goat - what in the world went wrong. As I arrived at the barn door and talked with my pry who was guarding the door I again prayed that I was not going to have another house guest...

As I pulled back the door slowly and entered the barn with my heart beating so hard I thought everyone could hear it - there was the little girl nursing away.. OH MY was she nursing!! So I pulled up my chair and just WATCHED... Olivia was letting this baby nurse and nurse and nurse. I wanted to stand up and clap but I just watched and gave thanks...

So, Another wonderful Mother and a Gem of a new little girl. As for the name it came to me the moment she took her first breath. She is an old soul, a sparkling gem for this farm. She is only a day old and has managed to get everyone of the older kids to come and greet her. Opal is her name.