The Snow Day

We had a snow day today-and the unexpected day off is one of the biggest perks to being a teacher, I’ll tell you that right now.

The boys stayed in town at my parents, so I was home alone.

And now, I shall tell you about my snow day.

I looked out the window towards one of our cow pens and saw a calf who was laying down and very still. I watched it for awhile and decided it was dead. I knew I would sound like a fool if I told David there was something dead, and it turned out to be alive, so I waited a good while to make sure the thing was not moving and then I texted him.

His reply: Not dead.

Me: Well, it is not moving.

And he goes radio silent. Probably because he is managing a shop and it is his busy time. I cannot be certain. And, of course, right after I texted him, the calf moved its head a little bit.

Me: Sorry it is alive. What should I do?

David: Nothing. It will just die soon.

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Bleeding hearts of the world. I cannot let this happen on my watch. So, I suited up-Farm Girl Style.

Before we go any further, I need you to please all understand that I truly have no idea what I am doing.

At all.

However, I just cannot hang out in my warm house and do my thing and see a dying creature getting snow toppled over it. It is not in the fibers of my being. And, yes. I am fully aware of our track record, and yes, I know that this calf will most likely die, but at least I can say I tried.

So. I went to our stash of bovine medications. Yes-we have bovine medication-don’t you? I decide on one that I think will solve this calf’s problems and determine the dosage based on its weight of approximately 400 pounds and I trek on out there.

This is what she looked like:

First, I try to get it to stand-no such luck. Then I feel the poor thing-totally frozen. Don’t know how it is still alive. Then-and here comes the worst part-I had to give it a shot. 3 shots actually because I needed 18ml and I could only find a 6 ml syringe.

So.

I look at the thing. I apologize to the thing. And I just jab the needle in her butt and hope for the best. Three times. She didn’t complain once.

Next, I tried to figure out how to get her warmed up. I decide I shall get a bale of hay, and I am not strong at all, and it took everything in me to grab a bale from the hay barn and trek through the snow. I used muscles that I did not even know I had.

I covered up and decided it would do for the time being.

Since I was already dressed for the snowpocalypse, I went to load the wood box. As I was doing so, I saw the rest of the cows in that pen go over to my dying calf and start eating the hay blanket.

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Disclaimer-this calf is a year old. Not a newborn. If it was a newborn, I would have just carried it into the house. Like a normal person.

So, I decide to grab one of David’s empty grain sacks and I made sure hay was on the calf and then I put the grain sack on top like a blanket to try and keep the warmth on the calf and hopefully help the cows not eat away all of it’s insulation.

And that was fine for awhile, until it wasn’t and a bit later I had to go out there again and try to get her all situated. This time, I took the dogs. All of our cows double hate our dogs, so I figured they might be able to get her up.

No such luck.

But I got her all warm and cozy and she started to eat her hay blanket, which I took as a good sign, and then Charlie would not leave her, and I thought that was sweet and precious.

It is now noon-ish and the snow storm really starts to kick into gear. HD was texting me from my parents house-almost an hour away. When he heard about the calf, he said he was coming home. This was good, because I needed muscle, and bad because he drives a Honda Accord and it was snowmaggedon. But the boys made it home, and we got right to work.

HD had already formulated a plan-and it was a solid plan, so LD and I went with it.

First, we had to get the calf on a sled. This was no easy feat.

Next, we had to pull the calf out of the cow pen and into an area where we could attach a rope from the sled to the side by side.

And I have to admit, Friends-

Things were not looking good.

I mean. Come on. Look at it.

Doesn’t look super promising, does it.

Anyways, we get it to where the side by side can get it and we pull it to the hay barn.

Me, every 10 seconds: This is not good. I think it is dead.

HD (shouting): I SEE IT BREATHING.

And so on.

We get it inside and then we have to try and flip it back right side up.

Again. Not easy.

We break open another hay bale and start stuffing hay under the calf and all around it-trying to prop her up and warm her up. I went to get some drinking water for her and the boys found a propane heater and set it up.

She drank at least a half gallon of water and got back to eating. Meanwhile, the boys started getting the place sort of sealed in to keep as much heat in as possible.

I am thankful they came home to help me. We wanted them to stay in town because of the roads and HD only has a Honda Accord, but they made it home safely and did not end up in a ditch. And that is always a good thing.

We could only leave that heater on for a bit (fire danger), but that poor calf was so cold, there was steam coming up off of her body.

I do not know if she will make it, but we did our best-and I am so thankful the boys were able to help.

Happy Wednesday!