Today

 The weather was suppose to get better and be up past the freezing point, well, the weather changed it’s mind. Instead of near 40 degrees, it decided to stay at 20 and snow more. I know I’m over it and so are the animals and so many other people. I’m beyond stressed right now, Ronnie and I had to get a hotel due to having no electricity which means no heat. We did go feed and water the animals of course but there is something about not being there, especially with it being so cold in the house. Surely the dogs will cuddle up and so will the cats that are in the house, but it stresses me bad. I hate not being there for the other animals also but I did get to see them all and make sure they were okay. This is just awful. I do not like it and I’m ready for this weather to straighten up. Someone remind me of this when it’s summertime, I hear it’s brutal here in the summer. 

Lucky Progress

 I wanted to let everyone know that Lucky made it through the night in his hay and having his own water. I am hopeful for him that we are turning a corner. I’m trying to stay positive. He is enjoying having his own spot at the moment. He does have some fight in him right now because when the gate opens, he wants to get out. When I got home he was looking up at me like what are you looking at, I’m fine. I gave him more supplements and he really is eating well. He is drinking well also which are all good signs. The one thing I am not happy to say is he does not have diarrhea anymore. That has been stopped. I noticed his eyes are looking much better than they did a few days ago as well. I learn something new everyday but a new friend of mine told me not long ago that when the eyes look bugged out, they are dehydrated. Lucky’s looked rough yesterday but he looks so much better today. I’m still praying for him and hoping we turned a corner. 

Artic Temps

 Now this weather across the United States just needs to go away. The last few days have been so extremely cold. I feel so badly for these animals. I know they have to be cold, but we have done everything we can. I have put out straw and Ronnie has worked on windbreaks for the animals. Everyone of the animals has shelter to get into out of the wind. The temps have been so cold, we have been feeding a lot more than we normally do to keep them warmer. Our biggest fight has been water. With temps in single digits and harsh windchills making the temp in the negative, keeping drinkable water is a problem. Ronnie has used a blow torch, he has used an ax, etc. but the minute the water is in liquid form again, they get to drink some and it freezes again. Last night the weather was unbearable. The low was 1 degree here. I cried and prayed for a long time over those animals. Lucky has been really sick and was moved last night in hopes he would make it through the night. I have been very anxious but have been trying to pray instead of stress. I was still stressed. I wasn’t sleeping very well and then our electricity went out at 2 am. Then a smoke detector decided it needed new batteries and continued to beep. Then the snow plow continued to go up and down the street and every time it did, the dogs would bark. Needless to say, I have been up since 2 am. The electricity did not come back on until after I went to work. My husband who I am so grateful for has spent the day buying new water troughs for the animals and getting more hay and feed for them. When I got home from work, we put bottles of water with salt in them in each water trough in hopes that it won’t freeze again. Everyone of those animals drank so much water, some of the troughs had to be refilled. It’s bitter cold out tonight again but not nearly as bad as last night. I’m continuing to pray for these animals in this bitter cold. I’m ready for the cold to go away. I’m not sure I signed up for this. 

Lucky Update

 This morning it seemed Lucky might have been better. He was up, eating and drinking. He even ran from us when we were trying to get some supplements down him. It wasn’t real fast so we were able to get it down him. The temps have dropped consistently today and we have had some crazy snow here today. As we were out feeding and watering, literally for hours due to the awful temps. Ronnie has to do some work on the barn and the shelter for the baby goats while we were out. The water is definitely a battle since it freezes as soon as Ronnie uses the blow torch to unfreeze it. Whoever decided this was a good idea, we need to talk. Hahaha!! Just kidding. As we were out, I noticed all the donkeys are limping around due to snow build up in hooves. Edith, the chicken that sleeps in the shop was laying out in the snow which is not good. Looked like maybe the cats kicked her out. She finally found her way to the area the other chickens were in. The pigs needed more straw which I was able to put in there. Ronnie and I went into the barn to give more supplements to Lucky and Carlos. I had to go do something and left the barn. When I came back out, Ronnie said Lucky is down and can’t get up. I run to the barn and he is definitely down and not getting up. Doesn’t even try when I go over to him and this is the goat that does not like humans. At least he was in the straw. I picked him up and put him in my lap to warm up. I think Hercules was bullying him. And I think Carlos is getting sick so I have treated Carlos and Hercules also already. I get Lucky in my lap and he relaxes some. I give him a bottle of water using the drencher. I decide I cannot leave him in here but the lean to is on its top so I can’t put him in there. Ronnie ends up making him a place in the chicken roosting spot. There are pens set up in there. He put a bunch of hay down in there and covered it with a tarp to keep the wind out of there. I picked him up and carried him part of the way and then Ronnie took over because Lucky is heavier than I thought. When we get over there, Ronnie hands him back to me. I thought he was gone already because he wasn’t moving but I cuddled with him a few minutes and he was moving. I bury him in the hay up to his head. He started eating the hay while he is covered up. I saw that as a good sign but then his head kind of drops. He was breathing and all but it’s like he was exhausted. I put water in there of course and put a plastic bottle in there so it wouldn’t freeze. Edith decided to go in there with Lucky and cuddled in the hay also. I have sat here and prayed about all of the animals because it is unbelievably awful out here. I finally decided Lucky needed to be checked on. I couldn’t do it. I’m not over Romeo yet. Ronnie went out to check on him. He came back in and said Lucky was up eating and had been drinking the water also. I can’t loose hope. I have to stay positive at this point. Keep him in your prayers. He is still fighting so I will continue to fight with him. These pictures are rough. He looks rough. I’m still praying. I’ve cried for a couple of days now but I know we are doing what we can. 

Rough day

 Its been another rough day. The temp stayed in the 20s today. Ronnie and I have worked hard at keeping water to the animals. It freezes quickly after adding new water due to the temps. Lucky is absolutely miserable and has been crying out today. He even let me snuggle with him which is a first in 2 years. I know it’s bad for that to happen. Poor guy is miserable and I have just sat and cried over it. I know I can’t save them all but Romeo just passed a month ago. I don’t want to bury another animal. I’m just so upset. We added straw in the barn to keep him warm. Hercules is already battling him. I don’t want to put  Lucky in the lean to because 2 animals have died there in the last 2 months and it’s still upside down from the wind storm a couple of weeks ago. We treated Hercules and Carlos today just in case they had anything. I gave Lucky more iron stuff today to help with the anemia. I’m just so sad. The temp is ridiculous and i am just praying Lucky can beat this. I know I may be unrealistic at this moment but I just hate to see him suffer. I’m hoping the meds kick in quickly. Romeo did this for months and he lived for months but Lucky looks worse than Romeo did after a few days of this. Please keep me and Lucky in your prayers. The temperature outside is not helping matters. 

Defeated

 This week has not been a good week. I have felt like this was the longest week since I have moved here. Nothing has gone right and I have been angry all week. I do not like that feeling. I just feel defeated in everything I have done this week. Now, enter the cold weather. On top of everything else, the weather is so cold out. I’m concerned about the animals. I get home tonight and added straw to areas that needed it. All of the water in every single pen are completely frozen since the temps didn’t even get to freezing today. I go out to check on the animals in the barn and Lucky is showing symptoms like Romeo had. It was a punch to the guy for sure. That’s all I needed (that sentence was dripping with sarcasm). Sometimes I just want to throw up my hands but these animals deserve more than that and I am determined to give them that. I ran out of the barn and tell Ronnie what was going on. He heads straight to tractor supply. As he is headed to the store, I’m messaging a new friend of mine to make sure I know what to get. (Thanks, Casey!! I so truly appreciate you!!) Ronnie gets all the right stuff and gets home. Now, Lucky has been with us almost 2 years. He was not friendly when we brought him home and he is still not friendly. I should have clued in that something was wrong when he walked up to me a couple of days ago. He doesn’t like to be handled at all. I prayed we would be able to catch him since he doesn’t like it and it was dark and it’s 17 degrees outside. I get stuff ready and walk into the barn. He is laying in the straw with Carlos and doesn’t move. He is sick for sure if he won’t get up when I go into the barn. He just sat there looking at me. I grabbed him and handed him to Ronnie. I was able to get all of the meds down him. Thank you, Lord. I’m hoping this works. I will Treat Carlos and Hercules tomorrow also just in case. I don’t want to feel defeated. I was reminded by another friend tonight that I do take care of these guys and they know love. I do everything I can for them. (Thanks, Ladonna, I needed your kind words). I’m praying for Lucky  and a better attitude. 

Definitely cold out

 Im not sure where I have moved but it’s so cold. There was freezing fog all day and temps were not above 30. It’s crazy to me. This weekend is going to be worse. I got home today and Ronnie was putting hay in the barn so those animals could stay in the barn. I checked the straw for the pigs. The little goats are staying in their shelter. The shop cats are staying in the shop, thank goodness. All of the water was frozen so Ronnie went around breaking up the ice. I hate this so much for the animals. I will add more straw tomorrow. They all have shelter out of the wind but I am concerned because it’s so cold. Surely they will be okay. The goats had been out of the barn and had ice hanging from their beards. Good grief, I am a nervous wreck.