Several checks on Little Man tell me he's not getting better yet :/ If he keeps on like this, I'm going to call the vet tomorrow. Four days (out of 8) on meds, I would think he should be showing signs of recovering. In all the time I've spent around calves, in my youth and now, I have never seen one like Little Man. I walk into the pasture with the pill/syringe, and he walks right up to me. Lets me straddle him, force down the pill (or force down the electrolyte solution), then follows me around, looking for his lovin's for being a good boy!
Such a sweet, easygoing little guy. This is tearing me to shreds!
I managed to get enough out of the garden for dinner again last night, but that's it.
Got a big handful of wax beans, 2 cucumbers, a tomato, 3 pickles and a Thai pepper. Used the cukes and tomato in a salad, and cooked up the wax beans to go with. The rest is waiting for more to come, so I can dry/can them up :/ Since I was so good about eating a healthy dinner, I scarfed down butter pecan ice cream for dessert
My energy level has been off lately. The hospital has insisted I be off my OTC drugs for 10 days before surgery, and I am surprised at just how much those suppliments were 'propping me up'. I had begun to feel almost normal, once I got the thyroid drug regulated. Now, I am dragging butt again. Not AS bad as before, but not good either.
I've been working on a plan for taking care of the animals after surgery. I have begged DH to only take off 2 days, as we need any and all money he can make for the upcoming taxes/insurance payments. I wouldn't be able to do anything for two weeks, at least, so I have been trying to make things easier so DS can do them alone. I have been putting Little Man in to the barn proper when it's treat time. That way, he can eat his as slow as he wants, and Ice Cream, who gets hers outside, won't be able to steal it after she inhales hers. DH and I can keep them separate, but DS doesn't have the confidence he needs to control Ice Cream, and she just rolls right over him! DS just needs to learn to STAY PUT until he puts Little Man back into the pasture - the barn proper houses their feed and hay, with no barriers. DS seems most concerned about Little Man 'doing his business' and needing to clean it up
I have told him that he will need to clean the pens/feed area at LEAST twice a day anyway. I just don't see the issue
We have already made the necessary changes to the chickens - putting in waterers that are much easier to deal with, along with moving their feed into the coop, so he won't have to 'go anywhere' to fill their feeder. I'm just worried about him being careless/letting animals out. I have insisted on him helping me out, so he can get used to the routine (not to mention, he SHOULD be helping!), but he tends to be...careless? flighty? He was put in charge of the chickens last year, briefly, as a paid chore. I frequently found them without water and food, so I put a stop to that. My father suggested strategically placed lawn chairs - where I can sit and monitor his work
I do have 2 people as back ups, just in case I need them. I keep thinking that, if it's this bad and I'll be here, I can't imagine ever going on vacation, even for the weekend!!
I have been attempting to clean up my house. I'm not a slob, exactly, but I tend to have a very 'lived in' looking house. Always. I have cleaned, top to bottom, and had the guys trash it within a day, so I have stopped putting a lot of effort into cleaning. You won't catch any diseases at my house, and my kitchen and bathroom are always kept above average, but clean freaks hate my house. There-in lays the problem. My father and stepmother have threatened to show up here before my surgery, to 'see my menagerie'
and drop off my birthday present early. They are both clean freaks. Neither of them are comfortable in my home, and they make it obvious. They are strongly opposed to allowing animals in the house, and I have a huge constantly shedding horse-dog and a cat. We allow the dog on the furniture, which is a huge no-no to them. The carpet in this house is nasty looking. I have steam cleaned it, and continue to, so I know it's as clean as it can be (we just can't afford to replace just under 1300 sf of carpet any time soon - that's not all the carpet, thats just the main areas), but it does look rough. I vacuum daily, although there are always tuffs of dog hair all over
The point is, their visits are extremely stressful, despite my attempts of 'cleaning more than normal' when I've been forewarned of their visit. Funny thing is, my brother had two shedding German Shepards, and nasty looking kitchen floors, but the father and stepmother never acted like THAT was a problem for them
Ugh. Family. Do I gotta love em?!
I thought drying halted all processes - is that not true?
The guys loved them, but I had to eat a slice of bread after, to take the heat away! Also made a new loaf of bread for DH's lunch - the bread I made last night fell. I have been having lots of trouble with my bread falling lately 
I should probably look it up on the bread site I bookmarked for troubleshooting. DS is inhaling the bread that fell because, although it is only half as tall as it should be, it is very light and fluffy. Weird. I ended up miserable - it hit 98 yesterday, and I spent the hottest part of the day in the kitchen! The carnita's took 3 hours on the stove in my cast iron dutch oven, and then there was the oven going for the bread. Ugh.
DH says it's because we seem to show signs of incompetency with all our endeavors - I told him to speak for himself! 
I'm sorry - I just adore my animals, spoil them rotten, and worry over them like a big old momma hen! 
I was early, and got rewarded with the only private room! 
