A Soldier's R+R

     Saturday morning I woke to a white, snow covered, winter wonder land.  But it was also still rather cold out.  I got a 5 am e-mail from Dan: "I'm in Kuwait right now, won't fly out till tomorrow so still a couple days till I'm in the US".  It was good to hear from him and know he was progressing homeward.   I worked on lesson plans until Courtney came over.  We brought the horses in and she picked hooves while I brushed.  I tried to do Roni's hooves, but on the third one, the packed snow was so hard and my wrist already too tired, I had to let Courtney take over.  All three were glad to get back to grazing when we were finished.

 








     Laundry, school work and then an afternoon walk with the dog and the day was coming to an end.

      We made our way, circling around the property as I tried to capture farm shots.








     I wanted to replace the header photo at the top of this Blog.  These two were a close second and third.

     Zorro and Roni continue to work things out.  Having a face to face horse discussion.  It typically ends with
Zorro chasing Roni, trying to bite him in the butt.  All the while Roni does little bucks and kicks with his back feet. 










     Usually Roni turns and stops to face Zorro, and they have another discussion.  Meanwhile Amiga watches from a safe distance.

    





     No one has gotten hurt (yet) but it worries me none the less. 

     Eventually Amiga runs interference and then they all get stirred up.

      They resume eating and watching for predators.
     Back at the barn, the cows are cleaning up some left over alfalfa hay, their favorite.






     Kaysha and I concluded our walk and I filled bird feeders (both domestic and wild) and cleaned the coop heated water bucket.  The ducks always make such a mess of it.

      I finished the task of getting all my lesson plans done for the next two weeks and went to bed about the time Dan should be getting up. 







     Sunday morning I heard that Afghanistan had just gotten 15 inches of snow.  (They are 9 hours ahead of us).  After news of a big avalanche Friday and now all this snow, I was thankful Dan had been able to leave when planned.  Our weather Sunday was a surprise and a disappointment.  It was supposed to be warmer with some sunshine, and then rain at night.  Well it was very foggy in the morning and never completely cleared off during the day.  Then we had freezing drizzle for several hours during the day.  
     The sermon on suffering made it

clear man's life on Earth will be filled with strife.  We Christians aren't immune from heartache and pain.  But we do have God to help us through these tough times. Well, Pastor Mike's words brought many things to mind, and it really hit home shortly after I left Church.  I couldn't get my car shifted out of park.  I was on a slight incline on the sidewalk by school and it must have locked into park and I did not have the strength in either hand to push the button to release it.  After two phone calls, I opted to get on the bus back to Church and recruit help.  The bus driver and a very nice young man came to my rescue, braving the wind and freezing rain.  I was soon able to move on with my day and head to Wal-Mart.  While shopping for extra food to celebrate Dan's homecoming, a random man gave me an envelope and told me to have a nice day.  He walked off as I opened the envelope and there inside was a 5 dollar bill and a nice note.  God shines on us and reassures us all the time... we just
                                                     need to have our eyes and heart open
to see it.
     The winds picked up and ice from the branches was blowing and hitting the roof, siding, windows and deck.






     The ducks are just plain crazy, bathing in this weather. 

     All the other farm yard animals sought shelter and looked resolved to wait it out.  The horses stand with their rears to the wind and sleet.


     It rained much of the day Monday, melting the snow and filling our water way.









 Roni and Zorro were at it again.




Look how muddy it is and they are.







     On the way home from school Monday, I got news from Joe that Dan was in Atlanta and going to be flying in to B/N by dinner time.  I was so excited.  I had some last minute cleaning to do in his room and bathroom.  Joe did chores and we were off for the airport where Courtney and Mike also joined us. 

     It was such a joy and thrill to see Dan come down the tarmac.  Courtney gives him a big hug.








     He was a very tired and hungry young soldier.  We went across the street to Avanti's for dinner, bringing Dan home afterward. 



     Kaysha was equally glad to see him and wrestle a bit.  I gave Dan some "alone" time to unpacked and shower while I did school work.  He was so tired he ended up falling asleep in bed with his lap top and light on.






     Tuesday I came straight home to kind of hang out with Daniel.  He was rebuilding his computer.  I chatted with him some, watched a little TV and fixed a pork roast for dinner.  When Joe went into town to make his monthly Panera's delivery to our Church's food pantry, he took Dan to Courtney and Mikes to hang out there for a few days.  This gave me a chance to get some grading done.

     Norman did not eat during Wednesday morning chores.  When I got home from shopping after school, I could see him down, by himself, out in the back pasture.  I put away the perishables, changed into farm clothes,
                                                      garbed the calf halter and went to his
rescue.  I got him on his feet, but could see he was kind of bloated, and I could not get him to walk.








     It took me over an hour to pull him from the back pasture to the paddock.


He went down twice, just fell over on his side with stiff legs.  He also was clenching his teeth and was quite bloated.   

 








     I paused to rest several times, and for a little comic relief, I caught a film of Babe chasing Brother.

    
     Joe got home as I neared the paddock with Norman in tow.  We managed to get Norman loaded on the trailer.  Over an hour later, Joe called from the veterinary clinic to report that Norman had a fever and bloat and he may have lock jaw (tetanus).  The vet put a tube down his throat to relieve the gas and gave him bloat medicine.  To treat the tetanus he gave him an antibiotic, an antitoxin, and a pain killer. 

     I cleaned stalls and did evening chores while Joe was at the vets.  Norman did look much better when Joe brought him home.  We put him in the calf stall with some of Carol's old hay and a bucket of water.  Now we just had to wait and see if Norman was going to be okay.  What a long and tiring (physical and emotional) afternoon.

     Norman was still alive Thursday morning but his belly was starting to get bloated again.  At least he kept burping.  It didn't appear that he had eaten, drank any water or pooped. 
     Thursday afternoon marked my last day of therapy.  My wrist was sore from the work-out of pulling Norman for over an hour and then cleaning stalls the day before, but I have reached the "normal" range with my wrist movement.  Even though it is not near as good as my left.   With the financial cost since the start of 2012, I am glad to not need to go back.  My therapist did say to continue to do the stretching and strength exercises.  It can improve the condition of my wrist for up to a year.
     The weather was cold and rainy all
day... very blah, and with a sick cow... life was depressing.  Joe and I (and Carol) read up on tetanus, convincing me that this is for sure the problem.  Norman displays several symptoms such as stiffness and reluctance to move, lockjaw, prominent protruding third eyelid, unsteady gait, and bloat, which is common because the rumen stops working.  Joe talked with Brian and he said he has never heard of a cow of any one he knows getting tetanus.  They never vaccinate any of theirs so I don't feel as bad about not giving Norman the vaccine.  I brushed Norman all over and looked at his hooves and did not see any signs of a sore or infection, so it is a mystery as to where he's got the bacteria festering.  I feel so bad for Norman because he can't even open his mouth
                                                     to eat or drink.  He puts his nose in

the bucket of water but can't get any of it.  I tried massaging his jaw muscles and he kind of grinds his teeth.  We tried giving him a bottle but couldn't even get that into his mouth.  He hasn't gotten any worse, and he continues to burp, relieving the gas from bloat, so I am still hoping and praying for him.


     Friday was a pretty day of sunshine.  I went shopping for two photo frames after school... I had gone to Wal-Mart a few days ago. Today I hit Meyers, Hobby Lobby, Target, Kohls, Pennys, Sears, Michaels, and K-Mart.  None have dark oak 11X14 frames.  Mike and Courtney came for dinner tonight.  We opened Christmas gifts and watched a movie together. 
                                                     Then Dan went with them to their

house.  A beautiful snowfall with wet flakes sticking to trees, and buildings and ground was in progress.  As they drove down the drive and into the night, I turned and went to the barn to check on Norman.  Farmers rarely get R+R.




First I gave the barn cats more food, the horses more hay and water, and tossed a few flakes to Frankie and Babe.  They periodically stand on the other side of the barn door lowing (for Norman or food).  I ended up spending

twenty minutes out there massaging Norman's swollen belly and locked jaw muscles as I cried.  We had decided to give him a little more time in hopes he would pull through but I think he is starting to digress.  The bloat has gotten worse, the eyes more sunken, and his horns are very warm so I am sure the fever has returned.  He still stands with his nose at his water bucket, unable to drink.  I washed his lips numerous times and tried to get water in his mouth.  I feel so helpless and awful.  It has sure put a damper on Dan's visit this week.  This evening's snow is so pretty, but it is difficult for me to see beauty.  The snow will melt away and so will my sorrow... but it is very hard right now. 
.