I like thinking I am independent and I can get things done on my own but lately I have just had my plate extra full. Well my mom was scheduled to make a trip out of town with my dad, but plans changed and she had to stay behind. Lucky me because that gave her some free time to head down our way. I thought she would come and rest, but right when she walked in the door I needed her help – someone was coming to see the house and things were just crazy. Needless to say my mom rescued me. She didn’t rest a bit the whole time she was here. She took care of me. Honestly I didn’t know just how bad I needed it until I saw the laundry basket empty and my dishes put away and this peace just came over me, we needed my mom and God arranged it and put her in our house exactly when He knew we just couldn’t do it without her. My mom is the hardest worker I have ever met. The woman can run circles around me. I have never know anyone like her. She is strong, giving, kind and when she serves she does it in a way you’ll never forget it. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful mother. I know her love is endless for me and I am so thankful that she is mine.
The kids made a barrier on the driveway to keep her from leaving!
I am still laughing – so first let me share this. #1 and I were looking into the girls brooder box (tub that contains our baby chicks) and we were examining them to note the differences between what we think are girls and boys. He held a chick and looked at its wing and then the comb. As he was looking it over he turned to me and said, “Now we just have to wait for the chick’s sperm to come in.” I gave him a bewildered look so he repeated his statement, “The chick’s sperm – to tell if it’s a boy or girl. The boys will have a sperm.” Then he pointed down near the foot. I replied, “OHHHH you mean spur, not sperm.” I was so giggling inside but I just kept a straight face.
So, it was all about the chickens this weekend. Poppy and Nanny (my man’s parents) came over Saturday and helped frame up our coop. We made more progress on it today. I am super pumped about it!
I wish I had a photo of the fight that came right after I walked away to put up the camera. I can’t even remember what they began to fight about but it was funny how this sweet family moment suddenly became vicious.
I say girls, but I know at least half must be boys. They are only 12 days old and it’s too early to tell boys from girls, BUT I keep studying them looking for any signs. I have the bunch separated now into two groups. Group one has tail feathers (my first guess is girls) and group two has still mainly fuzz for tail feathers (my guess boys). I am looking at their combs carefully everyday to see if I can tell that some are developing at a faster rate than others – that will be my first real clue we have a boy.
We are still enjoying them. They sure do poop a lot though and I mean A LOT! Massive amounts. Like I am thinking each individual chick must poop every 15 minutes.
Here’s a pic of my no tails taking a little field trip. We put them in the dog kennel in front of our glass storm door so they could take a peek outside.
Tonight as I was kissing the kids good night my #2 looked up at me and said, “Mommy, please stay.” I responded, “Baby, Mommy is exhausted. I think I am going straight to bed.” She replied, “Then stay and sleep right here with me.” It hit me right then, we have been so busy lately and I’ve been so worn out each night that I haven’t taken the time to hold my kids – like REALLY hold them. So I took her up on her offer and climbed in. She glued herself to me and I just melted. I lingered for a long long LONG time. Later as I walked through the house I knew I needed to head to my #1’s room. He was still awake so I climbed in and we talked and snuggled for a while. It was amazing. As he was falling asleep I heard my #3 up in her bunk playing. I knew she had a lot of sugar today and she was having a hard time winding down. I climbed up and got under her covers. We whispered little conversations – mainly her talking – and then as she began to settle in and actually try and be still, she whispered, “Mommy, are you happy?” I smiled and said, “VERY.” She whispered back, “ME TOO!”
As I held her til she went to sleep I reflected back on holding each child. My heart was just exploding with love for them. As I kissed her sweet face one last time, I thought, “There is no conceivable way for them to know just how much I am madly in love with them.” Immediately a smile spread across my face as my heart pounded even more knowing that must be how God feels towards me.
Yesterday morning around 7:00 a.m. one of our Rhode Island Red eggs showed it’s first pip. Tonight at 8:30 p.m. our hatching ended as the last little chick broke free. It has been exhausting and stressful yet it was one of the most thrilling moments we have ever experienced together as a family. We started with 23 in our store bought incubator. Half way through we realized one was not fertile. Four days ago we discovered one egg was way under developed and the embryo died. Today during the hatch 3 never pipped and we have confirmed that for some reason they have died as well. So, that leaves us with 18 fresh little chicks : 2 Black Copper Marans, 15 Rhode Island Reds and 1 mixed breed (who is the weakest so far).
The kids got to experience all but one breaking completely out of it’s shell. We had several families stop by to share in the joy of seeing these little miracles emerge. I loved listening to my kids explain to their friends all the facts about chickens, incubating and hatching. I know this is a memory and learning experience we all treasure for years.
Now on to the brooding box. We have a heat lamp clamped above a huge plastic bin that will serve as their home for the next several weeks.
Now I am off to bed – with purple little foam ear plugs stuck in my head. : )
I am working on a video to hopefully post by this weekend.
Today during school, we were talking about chickens AGAIN when the whole egg thing led to them wanting to know where human mommy eggs were stored. So we get out the “Body Book” to look at our fascinating insides. Then one discussion led to another – digestion and how things come out : ) and then one to our brains and muscles and so on. I just love all it all evolves and they are so excited and not realizing how much they are really learning. Then my oldest mentions that he saw somewhere a picture of two people who had their heads stuck together. Next thing you know we are talking about conjoined twins. This all lasted over an hour and it was getting past our lunch time, but they had a snack around 10:00 a.m. so I thought let’s just keep going while I have their attention. We head to the computer to learn more about conjoined twins and wouldn’t ya know there are videos out there explaining the entire thing. (You gotta love the internet!) We start watching and it goes through how the fertilized egg doesn’t completely separate and they began to show some twins and one set in surgery next thing I know #1 says weakly, “Can you turn this off. I am feeling dizzy.” I was like, “What???” So we paused it and #2 pouted. I looked at him and he was pale and I mean PALE! He could barely stand up. I keep sitting thinking he must be really hungry and urge him to go get some applesauce. Well he walked slowly in the kitchen and headed for the sink instead. Then we heard it. He got sick and was at the sink throwing up. I rush over to him and he’s sweating like crazy and pale as pale can be. I thought, he can’t be sick. He’s acted completely normal all day. Then it hit me. He got squeamish at the video and couldn’t handle it. I’ve always heard of people feeling faint at the sight of blood and honestly never really believed it. Well, I believe it now! Who would have known. When it was all over, I just had to laugh. I mean he’s gotten cuts and bled like crazy and never felt faint. Oh, he did vomit and almost pass out a few months ago when he got blood drawn to see if he had the flu. Anyways. I wanted to make sure I documented it. He ate lunch 10 minutes after being sick and his colored returned and he was fine the rest of the day.
Side note:
Chickens should begin hatching late tomorrow night. We are all SO READY!
No pics this weekend. We’ve had rain almost every day.
