vickie gee
Well-Known Member
Anyday now my one in foal this year should be foaling. I say anyday but she really has me confused. Today (Monday, Feb 21) she is 316 days. This will be the second one she has had for me but I really cannot rely on her previous (2009) foaling. She was in foal when I bought her, pasture bred with a broad range of possible time bred. Back in 2009 she foaled quickly and sneakily
, walked in behind a couple of trees while I was washing dishes and keeping a watch on her all the while. I am not on mare stare, but I do have a nursery cam on her and keep one monitor in my home and one in my husband's office adjoining the barn. Ok, so Thursday I rushed home from work because my husband said she was sweating profusely, biting her sides, rolling, and up and down. All this continued through the night. I stayed in my sleeping bag and lounge chair out in his office/combination art studio/future dental lab.
This behavior continued through Friday and Saturday morning. I realize now she was getting things "in position". I really did think though that it was stage one. Which, one book I have says that lasts about and hour while another book I have says could last a few days. So, ok, Saturday afternoon, Sunday, and this morning she is acting norm except for rubbing, scratching, and pushing her rump on anything she can find. I took some pictures this morning and will be getting them uploaded later today hopefully. She has bagged, although not real big like some do. Nipples sometimes slightly in, this morning straight down. Slit is definitely elongated. Pink inside last few days. Darker pink today. Occasionally chews at her side. Became somewhat v-bottom yeserday. More obvious today. Not as much v-bottom as other's pictures I have seen that are "due". I actually have slept the last couple of nights in my bed, with alarm set every couple of hours so I can look over at the monitor and see what she is doing. When her milk levels test out "near" I will be back out there in my chair. Ok, for those of you that test milk with the swimming pool water strips here is my dilemma. The calcium and ph are showing defininte changes the last two days. The calcium one is reaching the shade of purple that shows 100 +. But the goofy ph one that needs to get down to light orange (near 7) is PINK. Bright pink Thursday and Friday, now is light pink. Will orange come after pink? Or is it possible that I have some cheap faulty strips? Sorry to have rambled so much. I am headed out to get milk from her now. Her name is Bear Branch Painted Choctaw. Wish me and Choctaw luck! She is a sweetie and a good mom. Will let you know what calcium and ph are looking like today. Opinions welcome.
BTW I realize from the forum that so much is going on with others and their minis. I need to send out some congrats, some sympathy, some attagirls but right now I am doing good to get in a little time checking in on you all. But you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
