First, I think it is safe to say, not everyone is meant to have a goat in their kitchen, no not even once.

For me, it has happened more times then I can count though less often in the last decade compared to the decade before that. But alas, for today this can not be said as, there is a goat in my kitchen.

I suppose I should address why this has happened today, or any other time but before I do I want to say this.  I know at times it may seem like I am bragging when I dote upon my husband. The truth is, I am blessed not just by having him but by knowing I am blessed to have him, that is not bragging. This is something that the Lord reminds me of often and I am thankful for that because like so many do, I can take someone in my life for granted and not always see the many blessings in front of me. So I like to pen these things as a reminder to myself.

Last night and this morning I was again blessed, to see in action, the reason why I am blessed by being married to such a man.  As I said in my blog post “What Does Romance Look Like After Almost 30 Years of Marriage?”Romance is love in action.

We raise milk goats:

And if you ever raised milk goats or know anything about milk goats you know that they have to “kid” or have babies yearly, or at least bi yearly if you “milk through” in order for you to have milk.  Right now is “kidding” season for us.  For the most part kidding season enters and ends without much ado but once in a while something happens.  Ron came in after last nights chores and announced that our 4th doe was in labor and I could tell he sensed something could be wrong.  We have learned from experience of raising goats since 1997 not to rush in and “try to fix things” for nature as it often has the opposite effect. Sometimes creation just needs time to work itself out. So he resided to just keep an eye on the situation.  Throughout the night he got up hourly and dressed,  drudge the 400 ft to the barn (yes we understand it is that distance due to our choosing) to check on the doe. 

Little progress was made throughout the night in the goats labor:

Little progress appeared to be made through the night.  His last check had been about 5:30 when he gave up on trying to get anymore sleep.  I came down a bit later and asked for the latest progress report. It wasn’t tiredness I saw in his eyes, though I know it was there as he had been up since 5 the previous morning and doing his normal extremely physical activities but tiredness wasn’t what I saw, no what I saw was concern. Concern for the doe, concern for her babies. Sympathy and compassion dominated his concern of loosing a milk goat which of course in monetary definition means loosing investment (as that is what livestock is and please don’t think me cold for pointing that out), then it equates losing provisions for his family. These were not at the front of his thoughts. No, it was concern for the living creature and if he could do anything to help her. I will be honest, my concern at that time, though absolutely with the doe and her kid(s) was surpassed my concern for what losing the doe may do to my husband.  If that were to happen he would second guess himself, had he done everything he could? If he had acted sooner could he have made a difference? If he didn’t act so soon could he have made a difference?I knew all these questions would plague him. He would have felt bad not because of his reasoned he had inadequacies but his feelings would come because he would assume his inadequacies caused a negative outcome for the doe and/or her kids.

Of course we had all been praying that God would give guidance and be with the goats and Ron.  Please don’t laugh but we have even anointed sick animals before while we prayed over them. But this morning that did not happen. To bring a long story to an end, Ron went out and had to assist in getting the birth to progress. He was able to reach the first kid, from what he could tell when feeling, the kid had travel in the birth canal with its legs underneath it, thus lodging itself in the birth canal.  In a normal goat birth the front hooves are one of the first things that should be seen.  Sadly this kid was already dead but fortunately the 2nd and last one came quickly and correctly. 

Momma was exhausted to say the least.  She had indeed experience a traumatizing labor causing extreme weakness in her hip area by the time it was all done.  If you are familiar with trauma it can cause your body temperature to drop and since it was cold outside already it was a touchy situation.  

During the night she had not been still enough to blanket her nor was she interested in food or water. But once her kids were delivered Ron acted quickly. He had brought the blanket in to warm by the stove.  He had me mix up some warm corn meal mush (a treat we often give our new mommas in the winter) and he had me mix up warm water with a little sweetener and salt.  She was very receptive to both and even put up with the blanket for a time. He had the kid brought into the cabin until Momma has some time to regroup and the kid can be watched to make sure he will be fine. Though he came out quickly and alive because of the long birth he still experienced some of the trauma.

His genuine care and concern for her has continued through the day.  Several trips of warm water, several checks to make sure she is either up, in the warmth of the sun and not shivering, checking for signs of distress etc. 

I totally understand that all the things mentioned above are just the done things by any person with compassion towards one unable to take care of themselves be they 2 legged or four.  But sadly in my life’s experience I’ve learned not every person has compassion. This is why these acts of love stand out to me and draw me closer to Ron, making me admire him all the more.

We typically treat our herd herbally. Though there are sufficient herbs to ward off infection or heal it, because we are going to be gone for a few days after tomorrow with RJ here taking care of everything, we decided that Momma would go on an antibiotic as such assistance in birthing can open up a flood of bacteria that can cause infection.

So this is one way we have had goats in our kitchen though it has only been a couple times over 21 years.  Other ways have been a momma has not produced milk, maybe a kid was a little sluggish.  Also for several years when we first started raising milk goats we bottle feed them all. So many goats ended up in our kitchen for the first few days of its life if it was too cold out, a single birth or we just decided with multiple feeds round the clock it was just best all the way around.

About 7 years ago we ended that practice though and not like the kids on the Mommas for a time.  It makes for happier and healthier goats in our opinion. 

I have enjoyed not having goats visit us inside on a regular bases during kidding season these past several years. But there is something warming about a family of all males (besides myself of course) that welcomes such a visitor into our home with open arms and even read stories to them.  I love what our boys have caught from their Daddy….I am blessed!

I love him because he is who he is in all things. He finally got a late breakfast of biscuits and honey.

Josiah brought the goat kid in while Ron tended to Momma

Look at his little ears!  The boys named him Elfie

Simmie decided that he should read the baby a story to make him feel better. 

When we brought him in Momma was in no shape to be milked for several hours so the colostrum was going to have to wait.  We made a simple formula of raw milk, egg, sugar and cod liver oil to supplement and encourage his sucking until Momma was ready to milk.