Labor and Delivery

 

 Two does + two hours of labor = four kids!

 Monday was filled with kidding on the farm with two does kidding AT THE SAME TIME! A first for us! Read more detail on Jenna's blog at the above link. 

This is always such a busy time with extra clutter around the farmhouse kitchen and babies bleating in the mudroom, but a great opportunity to put into practice all those thoughts of gratitude, capturing the moments, engraving memories into the heart, and mothering with patience, not pessimism.

So how did I do? It's just a little funny that my kiddos thought the day was difficult for everyone. By dinner time, obedience was non-existent for some (which raises the frustration level on momma's part), all were tired, and offenses against one another were adding up.   

"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."

Colossians3:8

Here's our chance! If you find that you have failed in this area, confess your sin and go to your children...ask their forgiveness! Purpose to walk in the Spirit, blessing one another and encouraging one another.

When Courage Rises...

It happens often that I wonder about our effectiveness with the learning style/approach we have chosen here on the farm. Responsibilities, animal husbandry, genetics, business skills and more seem to count, yet shouldn't we be doing that other subject? What about outside classes? Lessons? Teams? (because I forget who is teaching my children ) and I still fear man...

But tonight the farm is still in the swirling winter white and I have yet again witnessed the extraordinary courage and faith of my children. When faced with the pending death  of yet another goat (they are always more dear than just inventory) a decision was made to act immediately once we watched her final breath escape. There was no one here but us, and Josh courageously performed an emergency c-section on his sweet friend in a heroic attempt to save her kid. Knowing that she was two weeks early, it was a long shot...but worth it. Who wouldn't try to save a life? Or three? Yes, three kids were found inside.

Without turning back, we ran desperately though the snow to bring our little ones to the NICU by the wood stove in hopes of survival. Heat, massage, slinging, and my first mouth-to-mouth resuscitation proved unsuccessful, and in the end, all that remained was another life lesson lingering among all that needed to be cleaned up.

There is much to think on, many questions to ask, and perhaps surprising to some, processing with God on His plans and purposes. And back to all that we learn here on the farm, I wouldn't give these days away to anyone else. I'm here on the farm with my children (with my children is the key, not being on the farm) and that what we are learning is vital and real, and that what we have is immeasurably precious. 

And the courage Joshua had today was the courage of a man...taught by the Lord.

Farmhouse News...Joys and Sorrows

Thank you everyone for your prayers, sweet comments and suggestions. We made it through whatever illness we had, with only a few coming down with the virus. Jenna had it the worst, but yesterday did not require a nap, and today we received the most thoughtful care-package from our new, dear friends to speed along our recovery.

Sunday also held sorrows for us as we had to put down Joshua's goat after a very aggressive infection took over. We knew she was sick, and I even said "Be prepared...", but we never expected the suddenness with which it happened.The farm is strangely quiet, and though some may not realize why, for us (and especially Joshua), the death of an animal is just plain painful. I remember years ago when we would talk of goats, I couldn't imagine that they actually had "personality". Now that we are officially owners and breeders of goats, there is clearly a uniqueness about each one that is very endearing, coupled with the daily contact, care and milking of the herd. As you can imagine, a bond is formed that only grows over the years.

As the farm momma, I want to say something wise and encouraging, but all I can really think of, is that God cares for the sparrows, and other living things as well. This is sad for us, yet my children are learning important lessons for life that are rooted here on the farm, guided by the tender hand of the Creator of the universe.

Friday on the Farm, Budgeting and A Farmhouse Recipe

Just for a few minutes I'm going to ignore the pressing needs around here! With kidding season, our mess takes on a whole new dimension, which requires supernatural patience on my part! I can tell what my pre-meno emotions are doing just by how I handle the mess and clutter. Most of it just can't be avoided...and the excitement of kidding carries us through much of the chaos, but today, it is CLEANING day, and the sun is shining brightly!!! WOO HOO! At this time of year, every ray of sunshine brings a feeling of hope, and today I'm feeling it.The door was left open and a lovely freshness was in the air...





One thing I am aiming to do is organize my life into a not-so-glamorous-binder-of-sorts. A friend showed me her version, and if I can get it together, it will go with me everywhere. Included will be a section for meals and groceries, and I'm going to make a huge effort to budget. I would define myself as consciencious and careful with spending already, but I'd like to keep track and take it to a new level. I feel so blessed to be able to stay at home to raise our children, but there are days when I feel that I am doing NOTHING to contribute to the financial needs of the home. My sweet husband reminds me that staying home and caring for the children, educating them, making wise and careful purchases, repurposing and reusing...all the these things DO contribute and help relieve him greatly. So, with that in mind, I'd like to improve in whatever way I can.




Making my own laundry soap this past year has been a step in the right direction, hanging my laundry is a beauty all it's own that saves over time, and making our own food reaps nutritional and financial benefits. We've received multiple bags of rolled oats which we use for home-made granola. My kiddos are loving it, (I'm always encouraged when they like something I make!) so I'm passing on another farmhouse favorite. It's inexpensive, easy, and has no preservatives.

Farmhouse Granola

1 c. butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 c. honey

Melt in a large pan in the oven at 350. Add:

2 t. salt

1 t. vanilla

Stir together, then add:

12 c. oats

1 1/2 c. coconut

1 1/2 c. almonds (or any nut of your choice)

1-2 c. graham cracker crumbs

(a new secret ingredient that isn't necessary, but is good)

Stir well, then bake 15-20 minutes, depending on how brown you like it. I stir it every 5-7 minutes, and we don't let it get too brown. Enjoy!

Charlotte Mason On the Farm...

I love Charlotte Mason. She has been my inspiration for a lifestyle of learning since the beginning of our journey. This week was no exception! When I am not PMS'ing, I can enjoy the flexibility of our life here on the farm. Activities are educational. Projects provide great lessons.

Take this seed starter shelf made by Josh and Caleb. I tend to be a procrastinator due primarily to paralysis of indecision, but when Josh got excited reading the gardening book that included the plans~

...all it took was a trip to the local Home Depot (the guys equivalent of a fabric store?) and the two of them spent the day measuring, cutting, assembling and having great brotherly male-bonding time together. What classroom could best that?

And then there is kidding season, which, if you read Josh or Jenna's blog, you can get up-to-the-moment videos and pictures on all the farm births. Goat births are the big farm news right now and I'm doing my best to be the cool farm mom who not only takes care of the house, the education and the children, but also helps in the barn. I don't know if it's working, but I hope overall, that there are more good memories than bad!

We're back...

...from our first goat show of the season! No matter the amount of stress preparing for the show, it all pales as the excitement builds when the event actually begins. Although these shows are quite serious, we had a great time as a family (minus the multiple occasions when we thought littles were unaccounted for) and a fantastic time joining up with our friends from Asher Acres who were also there. Jobs were shared, hugs and encouragement given, food exchanged, shampoo passed back and forth... we think that every show should be this way! The children and their goats did wonderful, and you can check out Joshua and Jenna's blogs for more details in the next couple of days. Having a baby in my arms for most of the time and still not understanding good photography skills, I have very few shots of the weekend. However, I need to be the first to share who, in my mind, stole the show......it was Anna and Ben in Pee Wee Showmanship. In the background you can see Bethany and Jenna, thoroughly delighting in their little siblings. (I love that)

What a sweet face! She did such a GREAT job handling her doe kid, who was very fiesty, and she spoke very articulately with the judge. And guess whose heart she won?This is the judge...he was smitten!

Requested Photos...

Natalie checking to see if she's a doe or a buck...can you stand it???

These are taken right after birth...isn't it amazing? We love this time of year when the farm comes to life again. If the weatherman is right, we should be able to enjoy temperatures in the mid 40's the rest of the week. We're watching for green grass and buds!

She's Here!

Everything went well for our first kidding this season. Noticing some early signs of labor around lunchtime, we watched Celia closely the rest of the day until she was contracting approximately two-three minutes apart. When I checked her ten minutes later, she was well into the pushing phase. I took on the role of labor coach (very maternal of me :) ) and Joshua and Jenna handled the birth beautifully. We have a very pretty doe kid, but this momma is pretty proud of her kids...life is learning here on the farm.

Down At The Barn

Life on the farm is picking up...come take a peek at the girls as we head into kidding season! Check in frequently for birthing stories as they happen...

***When I finally got this downloaded it was much darker...very hard to see, but we're posting anyway, with the hope of a better video soon!