Here’s the shorthand version:
1. Yarn Party was great! We met loads of readers and made a so many new friends. It was a lovely- but exhausting- day.
2. Mrs. Doubtfire’s baby Statler was having some difficulties eating on his own, but he has turned a major corner today and is getting really strong. I thought we might have to bottle feed him but he’s going to be just fine on his own.
3.Victoria, one of the bred yearlings, aborted her lamb yesterday. This is bad for lots of reasons- emotional, financial, etc- but we must find the cause because if it’s infectious, we could lose all the lambs in what’s know as an “abortion storm.” Additionally, Victoria has retained the placenta. The vet is making a farm call this afternoon to see if he can get the placenta out. There’s a very good chance she’ll bleed out if he does manage to separate it, but she will definitely die if he can’t. I’m worried about Victoria, worried about the rest of my ewes, worried about how much the vet’s farm call is going to cost and worried about how far behind I am in all my other work. Susan Worried Gibbs. That’s me.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but y’all said you wanted to hear everything. I’ll update this post after the vet leaves.
UPDATE: The vet just left; he is almost sure that the abortion was due to the deformity of the lamb. He did a quick necropsy on the little guy and said nothing about it really looked right. The fetus was almost mummified. We will keep Victoria away from the other ewes just in case, but I’m cautiously optimistic.
I’m still bummed about losing a lamb and I will blog about the financial ramifications today or tomorrow, but probably tomorrow.
P.S. I am absurdly, embarrassingly behind on my emails and thank you notes. Please believe that the lateness of my eventual response isn’t indicative of my love for all the lovely and amazing emails and gifts I receive. I am so grateful for all of you!
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Fingers crossed for good, or at least not-too-bad, news from the vet. Remember to rest and take care of yourself – if there’s something constructive you can do, do it, but worry won’t help the sheep and will just exhaust you.
Wish I were there to offer hugs and moral support. Keep your eye on the big picture – short term this is just awful and sad and scary. Big picture it will be fine. No, more than fine. I promise. There is a big circle of readers, aunties, and others surrounding the farm with nothing but good wishes.
I’ll be thinking of you and Victoria today. Good luck!
Sending very best hopes and wishes for poor Victoria
and you. And a great big hug.
Thinking positive & non-worried thoughts for you today.
Ohh… poor Victoria. And my heart goes out to you too, it has to be incredibly hard to deal with this kind of life and death stuff hanging over your head. I hope it works out safely, and that all are healthy and happy soon.
Definitely share the sour along with the sweet.
Sending positive energy that this was “just one of those things” and not due to infection…that the placenta is easily aborted, and the bleeding stopped, and that you get some rest.
I am thinking good thoughts and positivity for the mamas and babies on the farm, and for the people who care for them so lovingly. Karla
Sending good thoughts your way. I hope the vet is able to help Victoria & that the rest of the bred ladies don’t suffer the same fate.
Great news about Statler!! Positive thoughts for Victoria. Take care of you!
Hoping you figure out what is going on soon! Good vet thoughts your way.
Glad to hear the yarn party was great and that Statler is doing better – it would not do to have a Waldorf and no Statler togo with.
Terribly sorry to hear about the ewe, and I hope that the update later is good news for the rest of the flock.
Sending positive, healing thoughts out to you and the ewes at the farm. I’m wishing you the best possible outcome, and a very small financial burden, since I know it’s silly to wish for *no* burden in that dept.
I have faith that it will all work out…I do.
Oh Susan, Victoria and all the other Ewes,
I hope that everything turns out well~that you find the cause is limited and not epidemic.
I am beaming you lots of love, healing and prayers for the best outcome.
Hugs, Love and Prayers
Rona
Sounds like the vet had pretty good news? How is Victoria?
So happy to hear the least worrisome result for you and the rest of the flock.
agreed. sounds like good news even though you’ve lost a baby lamb…
god has a way of taking care of these things.
life is certainly full of surprises, twists and turns
that i can say for sure.
beaming u all lots of love,
i hope victoria and all the others are safe, healthy and …maybe one of the sheep will have twins…maybe two will have twins…who knows…
rona
Poor Victoria, I hope everything works out.
Sending lots of good wishes from my corner of the world to yours!
Sorry to hear about the loss and hope that Victoria does okay. Hang in there.