Field Trip

We have the best field trips here and often, they are just that…trips to a field.  The house was full of kids last night when I got the word, that one of Our Friend the Farmer’s heifer’s was calving.  There are not many left to calf this year, so the opportunity to share the calving magic with Team Offspring is dwindling.  Number One Wife wanted to see a calf born, so we sprang into action.  (Number One Wife is pregnant with THE Grand Baby, so ‘springing’ into action actually means, going to the bathroom, grabbing a snack, then getting boots and a warm coat, which we did do quickly.)  Number One and Four Sons jumped into the truck as well and we were off!

Our Friend the Farmer had gone home to clean up and put his ‘Grandpa’ hat on, trying to get to the school in time to see a play.  So we were actually being helpful to watch and make sure all went well, as Heifers have never calved before and sometimes are so tired, that they do not clean the baby quickly enough.  If the calf is born with the sack over their face, they cannot breath and this must be cleaned off soon after birth.

We arrived and quietly took up positions to watch Heifer 201 calf.  The hoofs were out and 201 was straining.  Mama 201 seemed relatively calm and did her work with no ‘moooing’, which I felt was a reassuring site for Number One Wife, still I am fairly confident, that Number One Wife is happy to know, she gets more than a sunny day, a bed of straw and me as the available birthing assistant to have THE Grand Baby.

Calving was progressing as Our Friend the Farmer stopped by on his way to the play.  Letting me know, to get into the field and clean the calf’s nose, if Mama didn’t do so.  I was ready!  As he went in to check and see if he could break the bag off the calf prior to it being born…whoosh.  A wet calf was born and he was there to clean the calf’s nose, but 201 turned out to be a great Mama and was up and licking her little one right away.  ‘Grandpa’ proceeded to the school play and we stayed for the little calf’s quick struggle to learn to stand.  Amazing and wonderful!

We were back home for dinner, before we knew it.  I was relating how much fun it was and that it was too bad Number Two Son missed it.  He muttered something about seeing ‘enough’ calves born this year…  Kids, I just don’t understand them.  However, after pursuing the wonders of the internet, I have finally figured it out.  None of them have O.C.D…..only me.