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email sent to family & friends at 3:30 -
Finally have our "wax" - secretions at end of teats. Unless she's now going to do the wax on/wax off thing (some do), we should have baby in the next 12 hours or so. Of course, she's already late and doing this all "wrong", so I don't know...
Flanks still not "pouched out" like I'm used to seeing before they foal, either...but maybe she won't do that. Took enuf pics to learn that lighting will work, only to have batteries die and can't download pics on camera now. Can't find batteries or re-chargeable ones or the charger either, dog gone it...
Foal HAS changed position - further back and she's looser now - tho not real loose. Her bag is overfull -teats/nipples still turned inwards, hmm - & almost painfully tight (she seemed happy to have a warm water wash just now) and milk vein has shown up at bottom of abdomen - we'll see. I'm cleaning the stall and taking a 2 hr nap.
Course, this could be a false alarm (imagine that - another one!)... I'm not sure I like doing the "baby watch thing" - even if she is in a temporary stall in the carport. Gak. At least the wind's not blowing and it's not as cold as they were predicting. Think I DO like them foaling during the day out in the paddock/pasture - tho still want to be there for it. When I double checked her, "miss piggy" thought I was going to feed her (again). Wouldn't stop wickering at me and kept nudging her feed pan...LOL.
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It's almost 4:3o - I've cleaned her stall and put a bag of fresh shavings in the middle. She did normal move around things - and then stretched out till her belly almost touched the floor and stayed that way for about 2 minutes... Now - she's just standing w/ her hind feet suported in the shavings (I kno - bad but much nicer than nasty NC straw. I have pics of the most beautiful golden straw in CO and remember same from GE but can't seem to get it here). No worries, between towels and lots of hay - don't think we'll have any problems w/ the shavings. Plus these are great big fluffly type - not like straight sawdust.
Dogs have taken up positions on my bed... but I'm not in it. Monkey out enuf that he didn't budge when I turned lite on to hunt up footies and another shirt. Weird being able to turn lite on w/ Larry back at work at nite...
Well, nothing happening. I'm going to take a 2 hr nap - since I haven't been to bed yet... before the girls get up for school. Glad not doing JROTC recruiting after all - I'm not going to be fit company later.
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It's 10:16. I've been up and down every couple of hours (like a good mom, I signed Sierra's JROTC forms that she neglected to give to us last nite, and saw them off to the bus - but just barely!) and she's been down in-between. I fed her & Kechara about 8:50 - late, but that's ok - they've had free choice hay in their stalls. Now seeing some "movement" - getting ready and of course the camera isn't ready.
I believe she's in active stage 1 labor. Could still be up to 4 hours or so... She's kicking her belly, stretching, breathing more rapidly, stretching and circling the stall. When still, she's shifting from rear hoof to rear hoof (like an anxious kid expecting something bad outside the principals' office). Not still long! Waxed beautifully (aww, need the camera) and teats now hanging down and full, and really soft around perennial area and at the sides of her dock. Tail staying lifted up and away from her haunches - would be funny but I'm loving the fact that it's up and out of the way...
Called Vicki - she's going to bring her camera over when this set of laundry done (about 20 - 30 minutes). If she's not in actual labor - well , we'll be closer.
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1:33 - Well, progress, but not there yet. Lots of circling, tail raising, pawing. She's been down - but not when I've seen her. Some stretching and lip curling. Just did a series of "winks". Passing lots of small amounts of manure - firm. After I finish my lunch - pizza - I will go clean her stall and check on her again (live, hands on check, LOL). Vicki can only stay until 2:30 - then will need to head home as grandkids coming over today. Disappointing to spend several hours on "foal watch" and then possibly miss it (may have her bring the kids back here - but not sure...)
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It's almost 2:30 and Vicki will have to go. I'm going to clean stall and re-wrap her tail - she's rubbed and it came loose.
I pick up the girls at the HS and we get back just before 5 pm. Still no foal. While watching Stuffy, I'd done laundry and worked in the kitchen. When we all get home - Larry takes over w/ laundry and girls do some of the chores. I succomb to some sleep. I don't really sleep (needed to) but did nap/wake/nap etc until about 7:00 and then was out to check her... nothing new - still upset/restless, stamping, waxed - no other changes to her shape. Disgusting pony! Larry's cooked dinner and I head in to eat and sit for a bit. I was going to go out and feed Stuffy and Kechara at 8 pm - after we visited and ate. Peeked out at 7:45 - no baby nothing new... Hadn't even gotten started when Skye arrived home about 8:15 - "We have a Valentine!" No, I just checked on her - other than restless - nothing. NOPE, I didn't believe it. Well, she wasn't kidding! DARN PONY!
Went out to help w/ drying off, check it out and check on Stuffy (who is still very uncomfortable)... Took me a bit to check for sex - I was more worried about making sure breathing OK, and getting dryed off in the cold... Stall pretty wet now, too - will need to pull wet bedding out & add another bag of shavings.
By 9:15 - he's up off my lap (where I'd drawn him to - to dry him off) on his own and wobbling around. He's started to look for the milk bar - mostly missing, tho Stuffy is standing pretty well for him. I call Vicki and get thru to her while watching him. He finds what hes' hunting and sucks for a bit - good deal.
So "Cupid" is here and doing OK. I go back in to let them bond for a bit and finish my dinner.
By 10:30, I've given him his enema, checked him over better, iodined his navel and his hooves, cleaned and added bedding to their stall. Stuffy has eaten a good diner - made into a soupy mash. She's still uncomfortable - wants to lay down, which is ok. Talking to him - such a good mom. I haven't seen him really latch on well - so I watch until I do - I speak w/ Karen E & Gail M while watching this time around.
