Be Ye Separate

Our Man Of Mystery!

Blessings!

   Our last week has been one challenge after another it seems. It started with losing a dozen ducks and a minature horse. All returned safely. Thank the Lord.

   Thursday we had a sweet treat when CaraDD and her children came for a visit. The children were out playing in the snow and visiting the animals in the barn and she and I had a wonderful time as usual:) Well, besides the fact that I was still in my pj's and nursing a bad headache:P In between snow flurries they finally had to leave us.

   Brother Craig's birthday was also on Thursday and he had to work a little late so when he came home, I had managed to get myself dressed and the head was well enough and we took him to this new little italian place he had discovered while living here in the camper. I just with they'd had his favorite dessert but they were fresh out of Cannoli (sp?) :P

   We got home, settled in for a dvd and when he couldn't stay awake any longer he went to bed. The girls got the dishes done and then went off to do their bedtime reading and journaling. I stayed up and did some bible reading and started reading (again) A Woman After God's Own Heart.

   I was finished with those and thought I would get online and check email before heading to bed. It was 11pm and I needed to get to bed soon as we had a really long day ahead. Just as I started checking email I heard a very low but terribly loud screaming coming from outside. I listened for a minute and thought, at first, that it might be the neighbors big dog. Then it sounded like it could be a person but it was so awful sounding I got up and went out on the porch to listen and realized it was coming from our barn!

   I ran into the house and rousted everyone from bed. We all went to our appointed places for emergencies and with Brother Craig and myself armed and Sarah with her necessaries, (Mary-Ann had taken a sleeping pill and wasn't very awake yet) and we headed out to the barn. We really expected to see a predator or at least the aftermath of a predator.

   We got to the Nubian pen and there was our Man of Mystery, lovingly referred to as Manny, lying in the mud, his belly swelled to an enormous size, wailing and flailing. We knew immediately that he had bloat and it was very advanced. He had been fine earlier in the evening when we had done our normal nighttime barn check at 6:30pm. I was stunned to see that bloat could be so bad in such a short time.,

   We phoned several vets and the only one that would even speak to me said, "It's after midnight and I'm not likely to come out at this hour for a goat. Cover him up and phone me in the morning and we'll see what we can arrange." I cannot begin to tell you how angry and outraged I was! I hung up on him and we phoned some friends who raise Nigerian Dwarfs. The good Lord made sure we had friends that don't mind emergency calls at 12:30am

   They gave us directions on what to do and with the resources we had, Brother Craig intubated Manny while Miss Sarah helped to get him comfortable. She helped to do the hardest parts while Papa, held tubing and such. She was really very brave and did such a good job.

   At 2:10am, Manny started belching and his stomach began to "deflate" rather rapidly. He seemed to be getting much more comfortable and calmer. Then in the middle of it all, at 2:20am, he stopped breathing and was gone:(

   It was very hard on everyone but mostly on our poor Miss Sarah. She had worked so hard on him and really thought he was going to make it. After a few tears and explainations of how bloat is almost always deadly and especially when it's as far along as when we found him, we let her know that this is all part of farm life and she knows this. Deep down she knows that these things happen but it;s the first time she's been this involved in it. Feelings of failing Manny in his hour of need. She's doing better now and has decided to take some veterinary classes at the local college next semester. She says she doesn't want to be a vet but she would like to have a little more knowledge and experience.

   We are hoping that he managed to breed with all our Nubian does. I am sure he bred with Twister and fairly certain he bred with Brandy but not sure about Sparky. Time will tell.

   He was such a beloved pet and we miss him terribly. Here are a few pictures in memory of our sweet Man of Mystery...  God be with thee!

Sister Lori

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{ 18:59, Sunday, February 3, 2008 } { Posted by Kitty }

I am so sorry to hear about your losing Manny. It is always hard to lose a member of the family.
And I just wanted to let you know that I have featured one of your's and Miss Mary Ann's post on the carnival this week. .........Kitty

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{ 19:11, Sunday, February 3, 2008 } { Posted by CaraDD }

Poor, poor, Mr Man. I'm so sorry he met that kind of end. Hope the girls have loads of spotty babies to carry on for him. I hope next week is better for the whole family! Loves you all.

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{ 05:54, Monday, February 4, 2008 } { Posted by homesteadinthemaking }

I am so sorry about your goat. I noticed that you said the horse and ducks are back. So I guess that means that your mini. horse came home? Where had he been?
Blessings,
Trixi

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{ 07:52, Monday, February 4, 2008 } { Posted by OklahomaSweetPea06 }

ahh, so true about farm life, and as soon as I read the words Bloat...my heart sank:( I was just talking about this last night with a gal...) anyhow I do hope like you said he was able to mate with the girls, I wish your children comfort at this time...

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{ 18:56, Monday, February 4, 2008 } { Posted by rildapeel1 }

It is so difficult when we lose a loved one of any kind. I wonder if he had loved ones to met him when he passed. .... makes me wonder. God's peace surround you all as you journey in this life and bring you all you need to be safe and blessed beyond measure. Lovingly, rilda