Watch, Worry and Walk

Stress filled Monday....  Feeling like I have been drug through the knot hole and back.  When starting my morning as usual - no holiday's here I noticed that Goldie did not come out of the barn with the other bottle kids.  I walked out onto the back deck and called her name.  Normally she would run out of the barn to see what Momma was wanting.  Nothing!  So I put on shoes and out I walked to the barn.  I found her sitting in the corner of the barn and she did not stand up when I  came in.  Not Normal.  So I went to check her out and like with all kids no matter two legged or four she did not respond the way she does to strokes on her head or kisses to her face - that means she is not feeling 100 %.  Now unlike a two legged kid she can not tell me what is going on so it requires more skills to figure it out.

For the whole day I either had her with me or I was walking back and forth into the barn.  I could not even convince her to walk the back yard and nipple on dandelions - that is like offering your kid ice cream and they turn away.  I could not find a temp, injury or other signs of the multitude of illnesses that come upon these little ones.  This weather is not helping - 83 degrees one day and then snow and 23 with 10 hours later.  Also, they could have played to rough and she got hit and was nursing soar ribs - Oh how I can relate to that....

As the sun set here she still was not feeling good so it was the ever hour checking routine.  Yep, the put on the coat, shoes, hat, gloves and pants - grab the flashlight and walk to the barn to make sure Goldie was not taking a turn for the worse. Then to come back in the house and take it all off and sit on the couch till the timer went off an hour later. This tired gal knows this dance so well and I never mind doing it when the life of an animal is in the balance but I sure wished I had a dollar for every time I have done this.... 

I am happy to report she made it through the night and this morning followed me out of the barn.  This does not mean I will stop my watch today at all but it does mean that for another day I get to see that incredible sweet face, give her hugs and snugs and know that if for no one else I matter to Goldie.  She knows that I will do anything to make sure she is not left alone when feeling poorly.  The other goats in the barn may have lost some sleep as well but I would like to think that they too understand that it is out of love, compassion and duty that I disturb their slumber.  Also that if were them feeling poorly I would do the same.

So if you would please keep us in your thoughts and prayers today - we hope for a calmer day and night.