Baby goats

Joy did kid first, but due to one dying in utero, both bucklings died, since Joy went into premature labor.  I ended up taking her to the vet to help.  I think that I could do it now, if I was put into the same circumstances, but it was helpful to watch the vet deliver preemies.

On March 14, Hazal & Amani were racing to see who could kid first.  It would seem as if one was getting closer, but then the other would try to prove that she was the closest.  This carried on all day, until 7:30, when Hazal decided to really get down to business.  She had a doeling & buckling.  Both super easy births & healthy babies!

A few minutes after she kidded, I checked on Amani.  She was going to be pushing soon, so I moved her into a baby barn.  The first kid, a doeling, was breech, but was born ok.  The 2nd kid was born quickly & normally & the 3rd presented with just a head (the front feet were back).  He was born fairly easily despite the malpresentation.  All babies are doing well!

Goat kids arriving soon!

This spring, I have 5 goats due.  With me being gone during breeding season, I have a few dates, but am not sure when they are actually due, so I have been really watching & trying to use my past knowledge to figure out when each one is due. 

Also, with my friend Sarah, owning a UTS machine, we got to UTS them to get a better idea. 

Through UTS, it shows that Hazal & Amani are due on March 6, Emma on March 8, Joy on March 20 & Hekima in May. 

Through palpating & other signs, Joy looks likes she’s due in February, which would put her 3 –4 weeks earlier then the date by UTS.

It will be interesting to see if the UTS machine or palpating turn out right….. or neither :)

Puppies!

The morning after I arrived from the Philippines, Katie gave birth to 7 puppies!  I missed the first & last, but was so grateful that she waited for me to get home.  There were 5 girls & 2 boys…. not bad :) 

U/S goat babies

I had Sarah Pinkerton come over to ultrasound my doe goats. Listed below are the results....we will see how accurate we are when they are born! :)

M&M, looks a LOT closer to giving birth then what I originally thought. We aren't quite sure when she is due, but I think that it is 4 weeks max to her due date, with 2-3 weeks being most realistic. The baby(ies) are much stronger & bigger compared to the other goats that we U/S.

Hazal is only about 6 weeks along, so we could tell that she was pregnant, but nothing more.

April looks like she has 2 kids. Last year she had 1 huge kid, so it will be nice to have some smaller ones.

Emma's kids look really tiny compared to the other doe's kids that are due at the same time. Might get some "preemie" sized babies?

Gravity is supposedly due as my first, unless M&M is trying to take the "birthright" for her kids! :) I think that she is due with 2-3?

Rejoice is really large around, but we could only find 1 kid, though the others could have been hiding & we didn't spend much time trying to count kids.......

Anyways, I will let you know what they have & who comes in "first" :)

Hunting....& the Philippines......

I don't have any pictures, but on Saturday, we shot daga & a martines, - in the Tagalog (Philippine) language. Translated it is mice, & a starling, :)

I am travelling this May to the Philippines. Check out http://www.thelordsheritage.blogspot.com/ for all the details!!!

Fun with guns!!!

Yes, I am holding it left-handed!  We learned recently that my left eye is dominant, so I was told to learn to shoot this way.  It actually is very comfortable! :)

Can you see the shell ejecting???

 

We called this gun the “mini-cannon”!  It had a voice that echoed around our neighborhood!

 

Here is Corbin trying it out.

Yes…..I did shoot the bird!  And yes, my brother & I are planning on shooting more tonight……

Just thought that I would shock you! :)……I guess I am becoming a hunter after all…….

 

Grandpa taught Corbin & I cribbage a couple years ago….it is still our favorite game to do together!  Thank you, Grandpa!

When we started on our trip for Boise & SLC, the road conditions were very scary. We passed 7 or so accidents with 6-7 car pile-ups in some of them, & several cars off the side of the road besides.
One car we witnessed fish-tailing in the middle of the road & eventually sliding off the road into the embankment on the side. No one was hurt, however, & if we are correct, the van soon passed us on the road!
With the road conditions, it added a couple hours to our drive & a hotel stay. Us kids wanted to keep driving to the Rusts even though it was a very late hour when we pulled into LaGrande. We had just passed another wreck & Mom knew that the roads would be getting icier as the temperature dropped. So, we pulled into a gas station to ask for directions to the hotel.
Since we were in Oregan, a worker there, came out to pump the gas for us. Mom asked him for directions, which he gave us, then he continued on to say that the highway had just closed both directions & if we had continued, we would have gone 4 more miles & been stopped to wait for the opening of the highway, which could be 1 hour - 3 days!! God was sure looking out for us!
After a good sleep, we continued on to the Rusts. We were able to travel at the speed limit & got to the Rusts between lunch & dinner. That night, we watched "The Agenda", a movie that I would recommend to everyone. It shows clearly the direction that our country is heading.
The next two days we had a great time playing in the snow, playing Fuseball & ping pong, card games, talking & taking a 5 mile walk! Thank you for opening your home to us!

Our family got on the road on Thanksgiving Day, for Aunt Marty & Uncle Tom’s, who live near Seattle.  The roads were better then we expected, so we arrived in time for the big dinner.  26 relatives, including our family, were there. 

Here is Uncle Tom, Mom holding Jenna, Grandpa, myself, Aunt Stephanie – Corbin & I stayed with her & her family in Zambia, JoJo, Uncle Steve – Aunt Stephanie’s husband, Grandma, & Craig.

Molly, Kamryn, Kayla, Julia, Annabelle, Calvin, & Brayden.

The “Cave man” sure enjoyed his drumstick! :)

JoJo, Uncle David, Jenna, & Aunt Shawna.

The next day, we took a 2 hour drive south to visit our 96 year old Great Grandma, Great Grandpa & Uncle Larry.  We had another wonderful Thanksgiving dinner & went bowling while there.  After visiting for 2 days, we took a 2 hour drive back up to Aunt Marty & Uncle Toms, ate lunch, & drove another 2 hours to Whidbey Island.  Here we spent 3 days of relaxing & enjoying Uncle Steven & his family, Uncle Matthew & Aunt Nicole, & Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Marty, & Uncle Tom came up for one day.  I am sorry if this is getting confusing. :)

We took a lovely ferry ride to Whidbey Island.  (I am in the blue jacket, Corbin is beside me, Uncle Matthew is also in the back.  In the front is Kayla, Aunt Nicole, & Calvin.  Jenna is in the very front.)

The Seagulls were very pretty.  I especially enjoyed seeing them float on the breeze.

Isn’t the sun & clouds beautiful?

This is what our ferry looked like……

Here is Kayla, Rhoda, Corbin, Kamryn, Calvin, Julia, & Brayden.

 

Here are some of the cousins & Kayla, Calvin, & Corbin.  They had a lot of fun playing on the beach…..we weren’t directly on the ocean, but on an inlet, so the water was still salty.

I enjoyed doing puzzles with Brayden….something that I did often with her in Zambia.

Kamryn & Corbin caught a live big crab….. thankfully, they didn’t get pinched… :)

Enjoying the cousins!

Kayla with Rhoda & Jenna.

Only a few days away from their 1-year anniversary.  Corbin & I got back in the USA 2 days before their wedding, which we were able to participate in.

This picture was taken from the Dining room looking at the front door.  On either side of the entry way were 2 bedrooms,  both of which the walls were made of glass, & the bathrooms didn’t have a good locking system, if they had any at all…..

On leaving Whidbey, we walked this pathway to the lake….

Before heading to Uncle Tom’s, we visited Granny.

We had a great visit!

Saying “goodbye” to Uncle Tom & Aunt Marty.

We had a great trip……we were very thankful that God kept us safe & that the roads were clear, which made for easier traveling.  Thank you also Harneds for watching the animals!  This wouldn’t have been possible without you!

I.V. day! I was a little nervous at the beginning of the day, but with Ian's good teaching, I was quite confident by the time it came to sticking & being stuck with the needle. :)



At the beginning of the day, we started with doing hemoglobin tests - the finger prick with the lancet. That hurt. Then we injected oranges with water till they were squirting out... :D



After that, we talked about IV's for a long time, then we each took a turn at sticking & being stuck. I hit Sarah's vein, but by the time that I noticed it, I had already poked through the other side, & so I wasn't able to leave the drip going. Sarah got my vein the first time.....it hurt....but I watched the whole time & after the catheter was inserted, almost died from laughing! ;D



I still think that I woudn't be thrilled if I knew that I would be stuck again, but it was very amazing & I am much more confident with running tests & IVs.



Here is a picture after the IV is in and running. Sarah is in the yellow & Vicki is on the side.

Another picture of the IV.....

I am in Boise visiting friends & taking a Midwifery class!! We are on our second day of skills training, & have learned a lot!! This class goes for 6 days, except for Thursday where we will spend the day at the Hot Springs!! I am looking forward to it :)

Check out www.FollowingGodInAfrica.blogspot.com for some pictures & videos of our stay in Africa. Don't hesitate to write a comment asking questions on our stay, etc!

Our 4th of July was so much fun! We spent it with the Harneds & Arndts...


Some volley ball games! (volley ball is my latest sport!) :)

A wonderful dinner......

And of course, lots of fun fireworks!!

Isn't this a neat picture.......

The guys had so much fun lighting and deciding which firework should go first, if there should be a couple at once, and what would have the greatest effect on the listeners!! :)

Oh, and of course the goats couldn't stay away :)

I know that it has been awhile, but I have been told by a few friends that they continue to glance here, so I will try to get back into writing!!! :)

The latest news is that Birch kidded prematurly with twin girls. They are thriving and in less then a week have gained a pound!

This is Hekima. In Swahili, an African language, Hekima means wisdom. Hekima was the smallest baby of the two. She weighed in at 4 1/2 to 5 pounds!

This is Joy.