Just happened to go to the barn around 6 pm on June 29 and found Blossom standing over her very still baby. Taking very deep breaths I opened the gate and grabbed my precip. kit. I toweled him off and he responded but he was obviously a premature baby with some problems. After checking him over we had to hold him to suck and he did, hooray. Mom was very patient and full of milk so that a big hurdle passed. Just so happened our wonderful vet was coming in the morning for another matter (routine shots / check up) so that was lucky, too. Jim found that our cria had atresia ani (no opening in his butt). Our vet was able to surgically correct this on our farm and to determine that the rest of his GI tract appeared to be normal. All of 6/30 was pretty much spent doing neonatal ICU nursing. It took 3 days for confirmation of poop and that was cause for a champagne toast. It is amazing to me what is cause for celebration with life on the farm. Used to be we only drank champagne in France and after France we only drank it for big events like birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Now we drink it to salute a bowel movement in a newborn alpaca! How times have changed. We have discovered that it is the little things as much as any big thing and that we need to celebrate every day just for the joy of it.
During the week that the cria was born we were dog sitting our dear friends Chesapeake Bay retriever while they were on a cruise. He was pretty happy here but not too impressed with our house dogs. He is an only child and we were not surprised that he wanted his own space. We have known and loved him since he was a pup and there was some jealousy involved from different corners – mostly from our baby – Luke. All that worked out fine but on the day before our friends were due to return this dog got sick. Worry and watch for 24 hr and hoping it would pass. No such luck. Off we go to emerg vet. hosp. on 7/3 and the poor dog had pancreatitis. I thought, “Oh no, not again.” That is what our Owen died from last month. However, the Chessie was treated agressively and is fully recovered for which we are grateful, very grateful.
What else is new? Hmmm. (I know that is an alpaca sound but no pun is intended.) I know! We are ready to post pictures of our yarn and rugs made from the fleece from our alpacas. That is big news and I am anxious to get it posted and see the response. Hope all of you are as excited about this as we are!
Our chickens are fine but egg production has slowed a bit. They were one year old in April so we have passed the peak for number of eggs per day. They are still affectionate and all the children love to touch them. The books say it is time for stew but that won’t happen. They can get older along with the rest of us.
There is a chance that we may host a CAMELIDynamics workshop with Marty Mcgee Bennett. It is still all talk for now but I will keep you posted. Let me know if you are interested in attending, won’t you, please. She is terrific and her seminars are too.
Let your heart rest.