Kidding season has begun!!  I've been working inside the dairy a lot lately but all the excitement has been outside as in just a few days we've accumulated 8 babies.  And that's a slow time of the season.  I can't imagine up to 20 babies born in a day but the thought is really exciting.  I can't believe it's already december and I've been here 3 months now.  And I'm getting the best christmas present...goat babies!  I originally came here for the apprenticeship program for kidding season and I was reminded of my purpose for being here while I watched Kisses give birth to two beautiful baby boys today.  I've always wanted to be an obstetrician and have been interested in the midwife career and though my interests have turned to agriculture and animals my love and appreciation for the miracle of birth hasn't left me.  

Our first baby was born on my day off so I missed the birth but came home from a relaxing day with Teo to a cute little guy in one of the stalls.  Thomas named him Sebastian.  And boy is he a tough little guy.  He was born after the bag had already broken and he's a strong good drinker.  I instantly decided kids are the cutest baby animal I've seen.  Even after muskox!! But Walter and Hamm are a close second ; )   Below are some pics from Teo and I's day.  We went to Twin Falls and swam in the pool...ahhh it was SO cold!  But worth it.  We spent the rest of the day at Ho'okipa beach (where a lot of the surfers go) and watched the bigger waves and surfers do their thing. 

 

I can see how crazy and busy kidding season will be.  I'm thankful it starts off slow so I can learn the how to's before there's so many babies.  Being in the dairy all this week I've learned to warm up the milk to feed and pasteurize the colostrum.  I get so nervous I'm gonna burn it!!  Colostrum is like gold.  We take the babies from mama right after she licks them....I guess I should describe the steps of the birth.  Mom has baby, licks the baby, and we scoop up the baby before it suckles from mom and put iodine on it's umbilical cord.  Then we plop the baby on a towel outside the barn in the sun and give mom what's called a "witch drink".  Then we milk her for first day colostrum.  We'll then milk mom again the next day for second colostrum and by the third milking we milk her like normal.  Colostrum is the first milk where the babies get all their antibodies from in the first 12 hours of life...that's why it's so important to get it and feed them in that time frame...not to mention not burn it!  The babies will only drink it if it's at least 110 degrees.  I've already had to reheat milk feeding all 5 babies because it gets cold in the time I'm feeding the others.  Haha I envision a lot of heating milk and feeding in my next couple months.  So yesterday Popo had 3 babies in Manhattan and Kukui had 2 babies in Pond without being in a stall (where we take them when they're showing signs of giving birth soon).  I named Kukui's boy AJ after Aaron and one of Popo's girls Danilyn after Aaron's girlfriend haha.  Below is a pic of AJ (the white fluffy boy) and Danilyn (the lighter tan goat with a pink collar).  It's funny to see their personalities come out so soon.  Julia (AJ's sister) is very active and jumps around with Sebastian already.  I've put a video of AJ, Sebastian, and her below as well.  

The last few days have pretty much been consumed by kids but we did manage to get christmas decorations up around the shop and pavillion before they came.  Eva also gave us interns a box of lights for our sheds which I hung up along with pics grandma sent me and an awesome poster Jenny sent me!!  Thank you Jenny!!!  I've definitely made my shed my own.  While on deliveries it seems that the hotels are adding more and more christmas decorations and putting them out in preparation of the busy holiday season.  Could someone tell me where november went??  I have to admit it's a bit harder to get in the holiday spirit living on an island when your used to snow and cold BUT Christy's yummy candy cane truffles help along with Michael Buble's christmas c.d.  O and if your wondering who that little black kitten is...we found her in our feed room!  Christy took her home to be her hubby's christmas present : ) And Emmy got her birthday present!! Maui gold pineapples...best pineapple I've ever had. 

Well till next time...I'm sure I'll have many many more pics of more and more babies.  11 more days till Erin Leighton visits!  15 days till Claire comes home to Hawaii!  and 17 days till Kevin, Hovick, and Dave come!