This is my "bummer lamb"!!

Mom holding one of Birch's babies.

Stilton, Dakoda, and myself.

Stilton's udder began to fill up on Tuesday and her ligaments disappeared towards night. She was acting very lovey and wanted me near here. The next morning, her udder was fuller and she was baaing more often. I checked on her often during the day. Nothing much changed, until around 5:00 p.m. Then she began doing little pushes, so I stayed by her side. I moved Stilton into another pen, because she was in with all the other goats and I wanted to be somewhere where I wasn't worrying about other goats bothering us. I would have moved her into the birthing stall, but since Birch was sick, she was in there. So, I moved her into another pen. Stilton had no interest in going into the barn, so she went behind the barn and begin pushing. I didn't necassarily want her to give birth on the grass and dirt, but I didn't want to move her when she was pushing. So, Stilton had her first baby laying down on the grass. The baby was born with a nose and one foot presenting. The other leg was alongside the body. I looked to see what it was-a girl!!! I named her S. Dakoda. The "s" is in honor of Stilton and Style's first initial. I picked up Dakoda and moved her into the barn. Stilton followed and began licking Dakoda. Dakoda attached herself very strongly to me and even though I am not bottlefeeding her, she loves to come stand by me and 1/2 hour after she was born, she came and layed down beside me!! Right after Stilton had Dakoda, it looked she was bleeding more then she should have. I was concerned as I didn't know how to help her. Not to long after, Stilton pushed out a normal-presenting girl!!!!!! I named her S. Caroline. I was hoping that this was the last one, as I still thought that Stilton was bleeding, and her belly hadn't been to big to begin with, so I figured this was it. No, there was another one. A big one. A long-legged one. I knew that he was very long-legged as he was born as a footling breach (meaning that one back foot was presenting). I reached in and rearranged him so that both feet were out. Then helping by applying traction when she had a contraction, he was soon born. Mom came up with the wonderful idea of naming him Charles to go along with Caroline! I nicknamed him Charlie. All four of Charlie's feet aren't right, but in the past, my other goats that are born with this condition, straighten out in a few days. It is almost like their tendons are a little weak or that they layed funny while in their mother. Stilton rejected Charlie, so he is my "bummer lamb"! The other two, I am letting nurse for a few days to cut down on my time out there. It is taking me about 4-6 hours to do everything!! And this is only 1/3 of my goats due!!!

One of my friends came over today, the same friend who sold me all the Toggs that I own, and she said that all the Toggs are very conformationally correct!! I was SO pleased to hear that. I had thought so, but to hear someone say that, who was very big into showing and learning about conformation, is a real blessing.

Birch went through a rough day yesterday, but by evening, she was back to normal!! Praise the Lord for making her well and for some girls!!