07/29/2026
Sheeewwww y’all! When I say we have been a little busy lately, I’m not exaggerating!
It all started in March when Mr. Bentley came into this world with bowed legs. He ended up having to come off his mom due to wearing splints for about a month but he got straightened up and doing great.
Then came Mr. Belvedere (as my friend Megan calls him)….he didn’t get off to a great start and his mom ended up with Mastitis. We aren’t sure how much colostrum he ever got (if any) so he’s taken a minute to get stable. Then Mr Bentley decided to be rude and beat him up a little so he’s had a wounded leg for quite some time now.
Next comes Ginger’s baby girl. She came right before we left for the National High School finals Rodeo in Lincoln, NE and was doing great prior to leaving. Three days after we left I got a surprise pic of Figgy and her new baby girl (I didn’t think she would be due for a month or so). We have great neighbors who seem to find new baby calves every single time we go on vacation. With that being said, I also received videos and pics of Ginger’s baby that seemed to be having problems. When I saw the videos I knew immediately it was “fly strike”!! I wouldn’t wish that on anyone or any animal. I called my awesome vet (Jay Moore @ Cool Springs Mobile Vet), sent videos and he said bring her in asap. My AWESOME neighbor, Cydney Graham, who sent me the pics and videos, grabbed her up and took her that night. It was all hands on deck (new vet at Cool Springs Mobile Vet, Dr Taylor got her feet wet fast 😊), as she was heavily infested with maggots and her future was very guarded . She was shaved down and bathed, given antibiotics and banamine and tubed to ensure she had nutrients. Days went by and my updates were that she was alive, but each trip to the barn was a gamble as to whether she would be or not(she was living at the vet at this point). Two days after the fly strike on Ginger’s baby we received over 5” of rain. Praise God we needed the rain, but I was out of town and Figgy’s baby was now shivering and needed to be dried off and put in the barn. Again, Cydney was awesome and got baby dried off and put her and mom in the barn. In the meantime, Ginger’s baby is still at the vet and hanging on for dear life. We ended up coming home 2 days before our original flight, because my nerves were shot and I was needed at home. Everything seem to be going well, Ginger’s baby had turned the corner and was doing great and I headed to get her on Monday from the vet. When I got home from the vet, I noticed Figgy and her baby, who we turned out that morning because they were doing well, in the lot behind the barn, and the baby was breathing very heavy (it’s been hot and humid). I knew she wasn’t feeling well so back in the barn under the big fan they went. When I checked her temp it was 103.3 so I knew something wasn’t right. This morning at 6:30am, I begged Stacey Moore (Cool Springs Mobile Vet) not to deem me as crazy, but I had another calf with problems. The crew came out to the farm, since I was at work, and took great care of Figgy’s baby. She received antibiotics and banamine and we are just hoping and praying her labored breathing ceases. This evening we cleaned mom’s t***s and wet the baby’s legs to help with cooling her down. At last check, she was up and nursing mom so hopefully we caught whatever it was in time.
I say all of this with much appreciation for everyone who has helped me, and prayed for these babies. Letting go of control is hard, especially when I try to do everything possible to ensure their quality of life, but I know God is using these trials to teach me to lean on Him and trust Him no matter the outcome. We aren’t out of the woods with all of them yet, and my barn is full of baby calves with handicaps but Gods grace is abundant and I’m so thankful he’s blessed me with every single cow or calf that’s ever stepped foot on our farm!! Love my babies! 🐮❤️✝️
