Just as Cheeky waited until the coldest night of March (temp close to zero), Kuiper kept her legs crossed past her March 24 due date
determined to hold off until the storm predicted for the last weekend of the month.
If she was hoping the low atmospheric pressure would suck the babies right out of her effortlessly, she miscalculated.
She went into labor late Saturday afternoon, but the first in line refused to emerge. Barb helped by tugging, but the kid kept retracting his legs and slipping back inside.
(Maybe he overheard COVID-19 news reports over the barn radio.)
Finally the combined efforts of Kuiper and Barb brought forth a buckling:
Orcus – named for a trans-Neptunian plutino planet located in the Kuiper belt, but also with a suggestion of whale.
Shortly thereafter he was followed by another buckling:
KBO (Kuiper Belt Object), who wasn’t quite as stubborn about entering the world.
Super good mother that she is, Kuiper set right about licking the boys clean and attending to their needs.
The guys were soon up and about.
Barb made sure they got that crucial first colostrum
but then Kuiper took over feeding duties without any assistance.
The storm hit later that night, dropping wet, heavy snow that toppled power lines
eliminating our internet service for a day
and our electricity for an uncomfortable 6 hours on Sunday.
Fortunately, temps remained just above freezing, so the kids didn’t suffer when their heating lamps went dark.
Over the next few days, they grew bigger and stronger
and worked on their climbing skills.
Meanwhile back in the house, Skyr and Villi quickly outgrew the tote in the bathtub
sucking down bottle after bottle of Cheeky milk
so they moved to a makeshift pen in the garage
where they could stretch their legs, chase each other madly about, and master the arduous ascent of Mount Hay Bale.
Then it’s time for a nap.
They also unleashed rivers of pee that flowed to a convenient drain in the floor.
(The aftermath, as the garage dries out.)
Monday, with electricity restored, the boys moved to the barn
where they have even more room to run, jump, climb and caper
show off for mom
and enjoy increasingly larger bottles of warm milk.
Dustin, fascinated by but wary of the intruders, was relieved to get his house back completely to himself.
On Tuesday, as March moseyed on out like a lamb, Cheeky’s boys were 11 days old and had their first play-date with Kuiper’s 3-day-old kids.
They all got acquainted, raced about and capered together
and climbed on everything in sight –
including Barb.
Though disappointed by the dearth of doelings this year, we are grateful that the mothers and sons are all doing so well. We celebrated another successful kidding season with the customary champagne toast
popping open a bottle left over from last June’s MeadowWild celebration of Hilary & Rumbi’s marriage
at a less anxious time when friends could gather together without fear.
