Xena's story is a special one.
It started at 2am, one chilly, early Friday. Mom and I had been checking up on Ginger, her dam, every two hours for several nights. This time when we went out, she was perfectly content. She was eating, chewing her cud, and showing no signs of contractions or impending labor. Mom and I decided we deserved to rest our groggy brains, and that we would sleep until 6am.
It started at 2am, one chilly, early Friday. Mom and I had been checking up on Ginger, her dam, every two hours for several nights. This time when we went out, she was perfectly content. She was eating, chewing her cud, and showing no signs of contractions or impending labor. Mom and I decided we deserved to rest our groggy brains, and that we would sleep until 6am.
6am comes along, and I throw on my coat. As soon as I stepped outside, I got this feeling in the pit of my stomach. I entered the barn and was immediately yelled at by a panicking Ginger, who was trying desperately to dry off three spanking new, soaking wet kids.
I ran in and started rubbing them. She had mostly dried off the big, black kid, partially dried off a buckskin kid, but the third kid, whom I assumed was the youngest, was very cold and wet.
I ran in and started rubbing them. She had mostly dried off the big, black kid, partially dried off a buckskin kid, but the third kid, whom I assumed was the youngest, was very cold and wet.
I picked up the littlest kid, and immediately I knew I was going to lose this one. I have had my share of small kids, but this one was so small, she should have been premature. Her entire body fit into my hand, and attached to the end of it were toothpick legs, and a head almost as big as her entire body. She looked like a little goat bobblehead.
I and my sister rushed the kids inside where we started warming them up. Their temperatures were below 100F; when they are below that temp they cannot digest milk, so you have to warm them before they can drink. We rubbed them in front of a heater and a hairblowdrier. I kept having my mom take their temps as I rubbed. The first two kids eventually stabilized their temperatures. However, the littlest bobblehead had fallen from 97, to 94. I was losing her. At this point I visualized making her comfortable, and driving her to the vet to have her put to sleep. I didn't know if she would make it ... in fact I assumed she wouldn't ... but she had fire in her eyes, and I knew she was fighting. To help her in her battle, I gave her a strong name - Xena, the Warrior Princess. It was the first name to come to my mind, and the only one that could do her justice. I also gave her GI Soother (it has medicinal-grade cayenne, which encourages circulation).
I and my sister rushed the kids inside where we started warming them up. Their temperatures were below 100F; when they are below that temp they cannot digest milk, so you have to warm them before they can drink. We rubbed them in front of a heater and a hairblowdrier. I kept having my mom take their temps as I rubbed. The first two kids eventually stabilized their temperatures. However, the littlest bobblehead had fallen from 97, to 94. I was losing her. At this point I visualized making her comfortable, and driving her to the vet to have her put to sleep. I didn't know if she would make it ... in fact I assumed she wouldn't ... but she had fire in her eyes, and I knew she was fighting. To help her in her battle, I gave her a strong name - Xena, the Warrior Princess. It was the first name to come to my mind, and the only one that could do her justice. I also gave her GI Soother (it has medicinal-grade cayenne, which encourages circulation).
I handed her to my sister, and told her to keep her awake and as warm as possible as I tended to Ginger and the other two kids. The other two thankfully got some colostrum in their tummies, were slipped into jackets, and given back to momma Ginger.
I rushed back to the little thing. Sara had kept her awake by singing to her, gently shaking her, and rubbing her in front of the heater. Mom took her temp - 101. Just enough to digest milk. She refused the bottle adamantly, so I syringed a bit down her, then brought her all swaddled up to Ginger, who took and nursed her gladly. Her temperature stabilized, so I clothed her and put her in the barn. I sat with them and watched them. The sun was rising and it was getting warmer. So they appeared to be doing well.
I rushed back to the little thing. Sara had kept her awake by singing to her, gently shaking her, and rubbing her in front of the heater. Mom took her temp - 101. Just enough to digest milk. She refused the bottle adamantly, so I syringed a bit down her, then brought her all swaddled up to Ginger, who took and nursed her gladly. Her temperature stabilized, so I clothed her and put her in the barn. I sat with them and watched them. The sun was rising and it was getting warmer. So they appeared to be doing well.
It wasn't long before I noticed something wasn't quite right with Xena. She was alert, but not very active. Her tiny, tiny hooves had a hard time managing her body. And her head was so heavy for her, that it drooped right between her hooves. When I saw her nibbling at Ginger's hocks, I realized she was looking for the teat, but could not lift her head.
I cupped her head with my hand and she allowed me to guide her to the teat. Ginger was so good, letting me help her baby. Xena filled up her tummy, then waddled off to sleep. We made a kid house for her out of a box turned on its side (weighed by a brick wrapped in blankets) to help her stay warm.
I cupped her head with my hand and she allowed me to guide her to the teat. Ginger was so good, letting me help her baby. Xena filled up her tummy, then waddled off to sleep. We made a kid house for her out of a box turned on its side (weighed by a brick wrapped in blankets) to help her stay warm.
Because she could not nurse on her own, and was a newborn, Ginger and I were going to have to work as a team to fill that tiny tummy. Stacey Rosado, breeder at End of the Line Farm, gave me moral support and advice. Xena would need to nurse every 2 hours day and night, in order to give her the best chance possible. Because she refused the bottle, I chose to leave her with her dam, Ginger. If she was to pass away, I wanted her to fall asleep next to her loving momma and her siblings.
So I began heading out every 2 hours, alway accompanied by either my mom or Sara for moral support. I didn't want to go alone, because I was afraid of finding Xena gone and having no one there to help me mentally. I was already very attached to her. Her little spirit was so alive, just trapped in a very, very fragile body.
So I began heading out every 2 hours, alway accompanied by either my mom or Sara for moral support. I didn't want to go alone, because I was afraid of finding Xena gone and having no one there to help me mentally. I was already very attached to her. Her little spirit was so alive, just trapped in a very, very fragile body.
The next few days were quite a strain ... physically, emotionally ... but they were also extremely special, and memories I will hold with me forever. I would walk into the barn and quietly call out, "Xena-bear, time for a snack!". She would reply with an excited squeak, and I would help her up. I laid down on my stomach and supported her with one hand under her chest, and one hand holding up her head. She suckled like a pro. Ginger was amazing, even as a first time momma, she knew her baby needed help and let me do whatever needed to be done.
Every 2 hours I also brought out some GI Soother and Dworm A from Fir Meadow, mixed with molasses. I believe God greatly used these products in her progress. The GI Soother helped her digest the milk, and maintain her temperature. She actually held a very steady 102.5 - 103F all through the night - a slightly warmer temp than her siblings, who were not getting it. After emailing Kat, who mixes the products, she reccomended also giving her Dworm A (we were working with what I had already) since it had some muscle strengthening herbs. After I'd give it to her, I'd gently rub my fingers down the sides of her neck and manipulate her head to exercise her muscles. I would put on a strong face and speak encouraging words around her, to help her in her battle. Then I would go inside, and cry myself to sleep over that poor little thing. I would wonder if she would be gone when I visited again.
Every 2 hours I also brought out some GI Soother and Dworm A from Fir Meadow, mixed with molasses. I believe God greatly used these products in her progress. The GI Soother helped her digest the milk, and maintain her temperature. She actually held a very steady 102.5 - 103F all through the night - a slightly warmer temp than her siblings, who were not getting it. After emailing Kat, who mixes the products, she reccomended also giving her Dworm A (we were working with what I had already) since it had some muscle strengthening herbs. After I'd give it to her, I'd gently rub my fingers down the sides of her neck and manipulate her head to exercise her muscles. I would put on a strong face and speak encouraging words around her, to help her in her battle. Then I would go inside, and cry myself to sleep over that poor little thing. I would wonder if she would be gone when I visited again.
Slowly but surely, the little nose that use to drag in the shavings was beginning to rise farther off of the ground. The crooked toothpick legs were growing stronger. She began to get up by herself when she heard me coming.
I remember distinctly when she nursed by herself for the first time. She saw me coming and bleated to me. I held her head up as she nursed, then very carefully, I took my hands away. It was only a few short moments, but she kept that head up as she grunted with determination. Of course the waterworks started. From then on, I began to let go a little bit each time. Then she began to fill up without me ... I remember once I went out and Ginger wouldn't let me help Xena nurse! I was distraught until I realized that Xena had already filled up without me - I was no longer needed to help her nurse.
I remember distinctly when she nursed by herself for the first time. She saw me coming and bleated to me. I held her head up as she nursed, then very carefully, I took my hands away. It was only a few short moments, but she kept that head up as she grunted with determination. Of course the waterworks started. From then on, I began to let go a little bit each time. Then she began to fill up without me ... I remember once I went out and Ginger wouldn't let me help Xena nurse! I was distraught until I realized that Xena had already filled up without me - I was no longer needed to help her nurse.
Xena and I still had a battle ahead of us for awhile. After she mastered nursing, she still had the challenge of being so small in such a big world ... she wasn't able to maintain her temperature without her jacket (THANK YOU to Cheryl McBride Magee, who donated handmade jackets for Xena. They kept her so warm and being able to roll the turtleneck down allowed her not to be impeded by it).
At four weeks of age, I almost lost Xena to the last problem I thought she would ever have - overeating. The appetite of a four week old kid in the body of a newborn kid was a recipe for disaster. Her poops loosened slightly, then she went downhill fast. It was such a violent decline ... she became lethargic and was obviously in serious discomfort. She ground her teeth and did not want to move. I didn't know exactly what the problem was, but I knew darn well I wouldn't take it sitting down. I separated her from Ginger, and pumped her full of activated charcoal.
At four weeks of age, I almost lost Xena to the last problem I thought she would ever have - overeating. The appetite of a four week old kid in the body of a newborn kid was a recipe for disaster. Her poops loosened slightly, then she went downhill fast. It was such a violent decline ... she became lethargic and was obviously in serious discomfort. She ground her teeth and did not want to move. I didn't know exactly what the problem was, but I knew darn well I wouldn't take it sitting down. I separated her from Ginger, and pumped her full of activated charcoal.
I remember those two hours I spend with her, rocking her, comforting her, praying that God would heal her or take her quickly. I began to sing "Que Sera, Sera" ("What will be, will be"). She closed her eyes, and I stroked her as tears flowed down my cheeks. We had fought so hard ... would I lose my baby now?
Then I felt something on my leg. She let out a sigh, and the most massive amount of liquid poop I have ever seen come out of anything just poured out of this tiny goat and all over my pants. Instant relief flooded over us both. She had gotten the toxins out of her system, and we both knew it. She opened her eyes and wanted down. She walked around the stall, wobbly but much, much more comfortable. I sat there, covered in poop, laughing so hard at the situation, and in relief. Xena just couldn't understand why I didn't want to snuggle her until she was dried off.
From then on, until she was much bigger, I gave her GI Soother 3 times daily and monitored her food intake religiously - separating her from Ginger for 2 hours a day, and 12 hours at night. That did the trick, and her tummy began to digest things much better.
Then I felt something on my leg. She let out a sigh, and the most massive amount of liquid poop I have ever seen come out of anything just poured out of this tiny goat and all over my pants. Instant relief flooded over us both. She had gotten the toxins out of her system, and we both knew it. She opened her eyes and wanted down. She walked around the stall, wobbly but much, much more comfortable. I sat there, covered in poop, laughing so hard at the situation, and in relief. Xena just couldn't understand why I didn't want to snuggle her until she was dried off.
From then on, until she was much bigger, I gave her GI Soother 3 times daily and monitored her food intake religiously - separating her from Ginger for 2 hours a day, and 12 hours at night. That did the trick, and her tummy began to digest things much better.
I thank God that he allowed Xena into my life. She taught me so much about being brave even when I was terrified ... and that true warriors come in all sorts of shapes, and sizes.
Xena is doing very well now. She is a healthy little kid. Every day I scoop her up, and she wraps her head around my neck and closes her eyes. I then rest my chin over her. That's how we hug. She is one of the best things that has happened to me. I hope and pray to see her through to a well-lived, happy old age.
Xena is doing very well now. She is a healthy little kid. Every day I scoop her up, and she wraps her head around my neck and closes her eyes. I then rest my chin over her. That's how we hug. She is one of the best things that has happened to me. I hope and pray to see her through to a well-lived, happy old age.