Daisy, Little Buttercup and Pink Eyes
There I was, in my hometown visiting our parents, having a blast getting together with beloved old friends, bonding with my siblings as our children were elated with this visit they have been anticipating all year long when I got a call from our house sitter; “Congratulations! Daisy had a girl!”
I was elated. Until the but came.
“But she won’t stand up“. Ugh. My heart sank.
I’m no cow expert but I knew that wasn’t good.
I then proceeded to hyper-ventilate when after talking with my cow mentors that the situation was beginning to look dire because she might be experiencing milk fever which can be life threatening. I called the vet to arrange an emergency visit at 5 am that morning and I started packing my bags. I left the kids and Craig there with Grandma due to their much fun having (Craig loves her giant crayons because they accommodate his sausage-like fingers).
The house sitter picked me up at the airport.
My eyes and nose were pink from crying the whole flight.
I was scared about losing the best family cow on Earth, sad about cutting the visit with my own mom short (we were planning on shooting another video together), feeling weird about leaving my kids without having time to set up the nanny-cam to monitor their sugar intake without me around and, quite frankly, this is my prime pms time; having the hormonal powers to turn me into a giant crybaby at the best of times.
And then I came home to Daisy looking so sad and paralyzed.
Baby Buttercup in contrast was prancing around the pasture; as happy as can be. So evidently smitten with being alive. The sad bits came when Buttercup would get hungry. She didn’t moo much but when she was hungry she did and it is the softest, squishiest sound in the world you could imagine. In her hunger she would suck on all these different Down for the Count Daisy parts looking for a teet. These were tricky to access because Daisy was lying down on three of her four.
Then Mr Meatballs would come around and Buttercup tried suckling on where his meatballs use to be and then Daisy, who’s also not much of a moo-er, would call her softly with a gentle “I’m here, baby” kind of plea.
Made me cry deeper to about fifty shades of pink eye.
It was so sad. And awkward. It was like, dude, that’s your half-brother.
But I was able to milk a bit out of Daisy while she was lying there and then transferred the colostrum to a bottle and was feeding Buttercup that way all day yesterday. But, the little stinker, I witnessed later in the evening her suckling from Daisy in that compromised position! Explained all her bounciness.
The vet and cow mentors were scratching their heads as to why she was down but a sweet old timer from down the street came over and he reassured me in his gentle, confident with decades of experience way that she’s fine; just needs time to recoup.
As soon as he said that the tears stopped.
And he was right. In the morning I awoke to find mama and baby standing in the pasture together right as rain. I like to attribute this to her innate mama cow wisdom and my lying down with her last night, clinging to her neck, bawling while demanding her to stand up for the sake of her daughter and for the love of me and my lattes (kidding about that last bit).
Before turning out the light last night, though I was extremely exhausted, I was reading a bit of The Sun magazine and stumbled upon this quote:
Crying is one of the highest devotional songs. One who knows crying knows spiritual practice. If you can cry with a pure heart, nothing else compares to such a prayer. Crying includes all the principles of yoga. ~Swami Kripalvanandji
Crying: the new yoga.
Who would have thunk it. How about you? What’s your form of prayer in times of worry and/or crisis?
Off to check on Team Cute again. Thanks to all for the thoughts and prayers to accompany my tears!
Thank goodness all is well!!!!! I was so relieved to see the photo of them both grazing away:) When I am stressed or worried or upset or sad..I try to just breathe..and to not let myself dwell on things that I can’t change…I try distraction and just tell myself NO and then think of something else. It helps me be more effective in times of crises too…since I then don’t waste time on thoughts that aren’t helpful. xo
There is a great quote I have in my “Amen” pinterest board: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its troubles it empties today of its strengths”. Words I need to remember more often! And breathing! I swear I almost hyperventilated at my mom’s house.
So happy to see that last photo
I know! I kept visualizing that last photo since Tuesday. I love that pic xo!
This is such a moving story…! And I am glad to know that my yoga practice is going great!!
Comforting isn’t it? I should probably open a studio I’m such a master yogini!
Oh bless you Kathy, how scary and upsetting! Glad she is fine now and up and about, I would’ve cried buckets too! Worry sends me to my journal to write it all down and I usually feel better but something else takes over in crisis mode, closely followed by a lot of crying too I think! So glad she is ok x
Yes, getting it down helps doesn’t it? I think that’s part of the reason I love blogging so much
So glad Daisy is back on her feet!
We’ve had a traumatic year this year for baby-having. One of our mama goats got very sick and gave birth early and died, and both kids died, and one of our cows, who we were told was absolutely NOT bred when we bought her from our friend in February, ended up having a surprise breech calf that died during birth in June.
I just cry like crazy at first, but breathing and being calm are the best!
Googling problems can be dangerous, I’ve found. One of our goats was limping last week, and I Googled it and instantly had a panic attack about meningeal worms, which I later found out don’t even occur in my area.
I like that the old timer neighbor knew better than the vet! For our limping goat, I called the vet in a panic, being afraid to lose another dear goat. The vet was sure it was Listeriosis, which didn’t match the situation when I looked it up at all, and wanted very strong antibiotics. After I calmed down, I looked our goat over carefully and realized she had an infection hidden at the top of her hoof. Goldenseal and epsom salts foot baths have cured her completely. Calming down led me to the best solution, because with clear eyes I could really look at the situation!
Oh, Angie ~ my heart goes out to you. I hear you on google. The biggest scare of my life came from google! I steer clear away now. You know what’s great though? I went on my cow forum. It’s a great forum which has loads of cow people who offer great support and wisdom. I posted in the 911 thread and immediately one woman even gave me her home phone number so we can talk! I called her right away. It was awesome:
http://familycow.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=cow&action=display&thread=55789&page=1
Wow, what a brilliant experience. That quote is so amazing. Big hugs to everyone.
Oh Daisy! That sweetie needed some time (and who could blame her?). Isn’t it great how the old-timers just KNOW about stuff? I wish all the best to mama and baby.
so glad to hear that lovely daisy is well! a good cry always helps me out. the cows look great! what a relief for you.
Kathy,
stumbled upon your site from Tiny Buddha, and I have to say I love this post! Cows are some of my favorite animals, they are so cute! Glad they are doing well. And I love what you say about crying and yoga. That really hit home for me. Love the quote too. I’m going to type it up and frame it somewhere.
I either pray, or chant, or hum, or meditate, or do yoga, or cry, in my times of worry or crisis. Then I remember to have faith, and everything will be as it’s supposed to be. I let it go, and all is well. thanks for the sweet story.
Thank you Molly and welcome Charlene! I always knew I was partial to cows and now that I have them I think they are my fave now. So noble and generous and just simply love their energy
That is great self-talk by the way in time of crisis – everything will be as it’s suppose to be. Must remember that!
i missed this until now …. how very scary!! so, so glad to hear that you all had support and that mamas and baby are well. xxoo