Sometimes, it's hard to be short...

War Of The Weeds

I took some time off last week because I was so convinced that Emma was going to have a baby.  Foolish me.  While no babies made an appearance, I did get some projects done that I have been wanting to do for a while.  It's amazing how much work I can do when I don't have to go to work. 

One of my main projects was fixing the are around my raised garden beds so that I have some slim hope of staying ahead of the weeds, which is a constant battle.  I had the local sawmill bring me a whole dump truck load of pine-bark mulch.  They are a relatively small outfit about ten miles down the road.  I buy most of the lumber I use around here from them.  One of their by-products is this nice mulch that they sell relatively cheap.  I have high hopes it will be a great weapon in my War-of-the-Weeds.  See that weedy mess in the background...the invasion has already begun.... 

This time around, I put black plastic down under the mulch to keep the weeds from coming up through it.  And of course, it all had to be thoroughly inspected....

By several inspectors....

I also used the old, dead round-bale to extend the garden area where I'll put the squash and cukes...the things that like to sprawl out.  That darned round-bale has been sitting there for about 2 years, waiting for the moment when I actually had time to deal with it. 

No babies showed up last week, but I do feel like I made progress in my little farm battle.  Of course, I probably just created the world's greatest mole habitat, but I can only fight on so many fronts at one time.  The moles will have to wait their turn.

I really like this mulch stuff.  It is very satisfying to work with.  It instantly turns a big, weedy mess into a nice, neat garden.  Maybe I should just take up growing mulch.  Sooo much easier than actually growing a garden:) 

Framed

Sunday Stills - Blue

The color blue was this week's challenge.  I took these while waiting for the vet to arrive yesterday. 

 

 I know the frisbee is kinda purple, but purple doesn't exist without blue:)

 

  

Good news and frustrating news

The vet came out late this afternoon.  The good news is that the baby is still alive and kicking.  Although, it is in such an odd position that it took nearly half an hour to find the little devil in there.  The frustrating news is that all of the signs that Emma was close to having this baby have disappeared.  We think that the baby was pushing on Emma's cervix triggering labor, but isn't actually ready to be born.  The baby has since shifted again and Emma is now more comfortable.  Hence, not going into false labor anymore.

I got an email from an experienced donkey breeder this afternoon and she summed it up quite well..."The donkeys can drive you crazy for weeks before they are due and it sounds to me like the foal is moving and maybe giving pushes on her cervix..like Braxton Hicks contractions in women".  I think she is probably right.  Unfortunately, we still couldn't get any good ultrasound images of the baby.  There is nothing to do but wait for Emma to figure everything out and decide to have this baby.  I do wonder just what other little surprises she has in store for me.  I will continue to put my faith in my donkey.  However....I think I will go tell her the story of the Boy Who Cried Wolf...

Hummers

The vet will be out sometime Sat. afternoon.  I'll post once I know something.  In the meantime, I now have a whole flock of needy pets....

Trusting Emma

I finally spoke with the vet who has the special ultrasound machine this afternoon.  The only problem is that she doesn't think it will work on Emma because she is too small.  After a great deal of discussion and consultation with other vets, we have decided that she will come out this weekend if the baby has not arrived and examine Emma. The main concerns are:

1. The baby is stuck and can not move into the birth canal.  If this happens, true labor will never start.  Emma will continue on as she has until the baby dies.
2. The baby is still working towards a normal delivery.  It's movement as it gets into position is triggering the false labor episodes.
3. The baby is still premature and is not actually due yet.  The false labor and the very early signs of foaling that I have been seeing for many weeks are actually signs that she is on the verge of aborting.  If this is true, the longer she holds out the better. 
4. All of this is perfectly normal, just very exaggerated because of Emma's youth and small stature.

For me, after the troubles and frustrations this week and after getting 4 different answers from 4 different vets, I have about had it with all of them.  I will stick with the plan to have her checked this weekend.  But, I have decided to put my trust in a wiser source; I will watch and listen to my donkey.  She is young, but she carries with her the instinctive wisdom of all mothers.  I will hope that help will come if we need it, but I won't count on it.  I will put my faith in Emma and hope that I can be enough if she needs help. 

Emma remains happy and content, with bright eyes, a good appetite and mostly normal behavior.  This, above all, is what I find reassuring.  The only real behavioral change I have noted in her is that she wants to stay very close to Tessa and becomes worried if she can't find her.  This is unusual for her, but Tessa has always been her surrogate mother and her protector.  It makes sense that Emma would want her near during this anxious time. 

Emma says she is OK.  For now, I choose to believe her.