Nifty...Don't Ever Do THAT Again!

I am still waiting on goat kids, three goats are due anytime then five are due in less than a week with the rest of the goat due dates scattered out through the middle of April. Have patience Emma, you are not due until April 12th. Just keep on meditating or whatever it is you are doing. In other news Nifty the goat almost gave me a heart attack the other morning. She is one of the young does that is due anytime now so I have been keeping a close eye on her. She is a pretty, feminine Boer doe with a red head and white body. I went out early in the morning yesterday to check on the expectant moms. My goats are not particularly early risers, being the goat divas they are, these girls like to sleep in. A girl needs her beauty rest after all. As I walked up to the shed Cherry gave me a look of annoyance and got up; such a teenager. Rose didn't even bother, she just lifted her head with a groggy expression like "Is it breakfast time already?" If she would have had a blanket, she would have pulled it over her head.

As the other goats woke up to my presence they started getting up and stretching, some wanted early morning face scratches. I noticed Nifty had not moved at all, she was still in the same spot, laying with her head folded back over her side, motionless. "Nifty, get up lazy bones" I cheerfully said and she did not move. I like to think I am a positive person but maybe deep down I really do view my glass as half empty because my stomach immediately sunk just a little and I said her name again...a little louder, "Nifty!"...nothing. I walked up to her, she was still laying there with her head folded back. I was looking at Nifty, all the other goats were wide awake now and looking at me. I was holding my breath as I reached down and gave her a little shake, her pregnant belly jiggled but she still didn't move. I guess by now my mind was playing tricks with me or it was the cool morning air, but she felt cold. I didn't see her breathing. I reached down again and gave her a really good shake this time, still no movement at all.

In just a matter of seconds I felt shock, sick, angry, sad and very confused. A wave of different emotions was starting to erode my utter disbelief. My mind raced to figure out what could have happened, I had no clue. I am actually very good about keeping my emotions in check during a crisis. I can think and function well, I don't break down...one might not know I am that upset on the inside, but I tend to show that hand by cussing. Few know this about me because normally in everyday life I do try not to cuss. In fact I just don't, so it can be a shock to people that know me, but old habits die hard during times of stress. Some people smoke...I use expletives. "You have GOT to be s!*#ing me!" I exclaimed out loud as I knelt beside Nifty's body. I couldn't believe it. It was at that moment she jerked her head up almost sending me backwards on my butt and giving me a heart attack all over again as she jumped to her feet. She stood there looking back at me like "Where did you come from?". In an instant all those building emotions were released and I laughed in disbelief. "Good grief Nifty, it is a damn good thing I wasn't a coyote!" I have heard of deep sleepers but that is ridiculous!