You Know It's Hot When...

 ...your farmer husband

comes rushing to the door

with a calf in his arms 

and heads 

straight for the man-cave shower 

boys' bathroom.

This newborn was waaaaaay too hot,

breathing rapidly and with an internal temperature of 107.8.

Normal is 102.

Yikes.

He ran the shower with luke-warm water, 

trying to lower her body temperature.

 

Dennis is checking her temp...

I've heard it said that two of the hardest doctors 

to be are a pediatrician and a vet

because your patients can't tell you what they need.

I'd like to add farmer to that list.

In the same way that parents do a lot of "doctoring" 

on their kids before--or in place of--going to the doctor,

a farmer tends his animals

before--or in place of--going to or having the vet come out.

I, of course, said "Hey kids!  Come look--and bring the camera!"

Elijah thought this was crazy!  

To have a calf in the house was crazy enough--

but in the shower to boot?!

Well...

She got up!

Dennis' idea worked!  

Thankfully, he got her temp lowered.

(You can tell how "new" she is--

just born yesterday!

That "thing" hanging down is her 

drying umbilical cord.)

A farmer has to really pay attention

when it is either too hot or too cold.

He is constantly checking his animals to be 

sure they are ok.

 Dennis carried her out the door,

Linnea dried her off 

and put a purple ribbon on her.

Crisis averted for today!

I should say now that most calves arrive on our farm 

with much less fanfare.

As in, "oh--#452 calved."

and that's about it.