Ma took things to the wire, but she ended up giving birth (sort of) to twins, a boy and a girl, so far they are all doing well. Dr. Lauren Marsh did a wonderful job of treating Ma’s toxemia and dehydration and infection. She recovered quickly, and we tried to induce labor again with steroids.  Ma’s water broke around 3 p.m. – an enormous amount of fluid came out of her –  at 6 p.m. I reached in and found the cervix closed, there was no sign of a birth and she seemed to be drying up.

Ma was restless, lying down, then getting up, there was no visible movement in the uterus, a danger sign after that much time. I called the Granville Vet Emergency Number and talked to Jason Weinstein, he said a labor continuing that long without progress was an emergency – I knew as much – and it was possible the baby was dead, they were on the way but we had to get the baby out ASAP if there was to be any chance. He was, he said, only the way.

Fifteen minutes later, I just couldn’t wait any longer, I was sure when Jason would arrive. I put on a plastic glove and applied some jelly – Ma was struggling and there was absolutely no sign of an active labor. I reached in and felt hooves about five or six inches in. It is very tricky to pull a lamb out, you can easily tear the uterus or do other internal damage, but I thought this was the only chance for Ma or her lamb, so I just pulled as firmly and gently as I could, the lamb came out feet first, covered in fluids and blood.

She dropped the ground and we cleared out the mucus and fluid from her nose and mouth, and she began to twitch and breathe. Then she got to her feet. I heard Jason’s truck pull into the driveway and went out to greet him and show him where we were. As we returned to the barn, we heard Maria shout that hooves were appearing in the uterus and the way seemed clear now and there was no trouble getting the second lamb out – this was a male, very weak at first, unable to stand.

We expressed some colostrum from Ma’s teats and got the milk in a bottle and got it into the lamb, along with a vitamin booster and some nutrition supplement. Jason said we did a great job, there was nothing much for him to do, we thanked him and he left.

Ma gained strength when this enormous load was out of her belly, she is an attentive and diligent mother, she is cleaning both of them off carefully, bonding with both. This was one of the wildest weeks in my lambing experience, I was challenged and tested every bit of the way. I was prepared to euthanize Ma several times to end her suffering, Dr. Marsh gave me good and effective options, and diagnosed and treated her perfectly. She was near death when Dr. Marsh came, and she is herself now, after giving birth.

We all fuss sometimes about vets, the large animal vets are wonderful, caring and helpful and supportive. I am grateful to them.

Jason helped us stabilize Liam after he was bitten and stomped and get Ma’s two lambs up and moving. I was happy to see him arrived, I am just about out of gas this week. But I love it, it is my life, and I did well, I remembered what I needed to remember, and acted when I needed to act. It was wonderful to have Maria by my side, she loves her lambs.

I’m glad I listened to Dr.Marsh, Maria is also, it is so much more gratifying to bring life into the world than take it. We sought to induce labor twice, once unsuccessfully on Wednesday, once again on Friday. I think this one took, Ma was struggling with the pregnancy.

Tomorrow morning, Maria and I are leaving for New York. It’s an important trip for me and frankly, I need Maria to be there if she is comfortable going. Chief Arvol and I are going to attend an animal rights demonstration in Central Park and then go together to the ceremony for the horses. I want to go, I believe a great mistake is being made regarding the horses, a great injustice is being done. Monday, I am meeting with my new editor and publisher. We will be back Tuesday morning. Zelda is the only ewe remaining to give birth.

I’m not worried about her, she can take care of herself. I plan to do some blogging from the city.