My Shocking Surprise

This morning I was so excited to go out and feed. It was snowing and everything was so beautiful and white. I filled the bucket to feed the goats and as I walked in the big pen I almost had a heart attack. I dropped the bucket and ran. There was a small little brown body laying on the frozen ground not moving. I grabbed the kid and shoved it inside my down coat and headed to Sammi's stall. I thought some how one of her kids had gotten out and froze to death during the night. When I opened Sammi's gate she was standing there with all 3 of her girls. So where the he** did this kid come from? It wasn't the right color for one of Diva's and the other kids were in the maternity house near the house. I took the kid out of my coat thinking it was dead to look at it. It was a newborn and it was barely breathing. The only other goat in that pen was Bridie and we thought we had just bred her a month ago. I went and looked in her stall. She was standing there crying and when she saw the kid she started licking and crying more. Yep, Nickel must have gotten Bridie while she was laying down as he is too short to reach her. He is only 11 months old so isn't very tall yet. Anyway, I ran with the kid to the house. I gave her 2 cc's of strong coffee to jump start her system. I got out the trusty hairdryer and started warming her up. I really didn't think she would live. I warmed a blanket and sweater on the stove. Put the sweater on her, wrapped her in the blanket and placed her in front of the woodstove to rest while I finished feeding the animals. I didn't even take time to enjoy the snow while I fed. I rushed and got all the animals fed and came back inside expecting to see a dead baby goat. She was still breathing. I gave her a injection of antibiotics and B12 and rubbed on her some more to warm her up. I gave her some of her moms milk I had gotten while I was out feeding and she drank it. I warmed her blanket again and placed a hot water bottle under her and left her resting in front of the woodstove. About 20 minutes later I hear a little cry and go check. She is trying to stand. I help her up and help hold her up as she is still weak but she stands for a couple minutes trying to nurse my chin. I give her more of her moms milk and warm her blanket again. She rests for just a few minutes and tries to stand again. I end up holding her so she will sleep. After lunch she is walking around and her body temp is normal. I take her out to let her nurse her mom. Bridie was so happy to see her! She cried and licked her over and over. The little one nursed good and then curled up next to her mom. I closed the stall and made sure there were no drafts anywhere and left them. I had plans to go get the kid in a little while but everytime I went Bridie would push her behind her so I couldn't reach her. The little one was walking around, nursing and doing well. I decided to leave her. I will go back out several times during the night and if she is the least bit cold or acting sick I will bring her back in. Right now I think her mom is the best thing for her. Bridie had gotten just a little fat on her but that was normal for when we thought she was due in May. She never showed signs of nearing labor. No discharge. No full udder, no loose ligament, nothing. I feel so bad I didn't check on her when I went out several times last night to check on DiDi and her babies. Diva and Sammi always take such good care of their kids I didn't worry about checking on them and I had no ideal Bridie was anywhere near kidding. What a miracle and a blessing that the little one is alive. There are still chances she might not make it. Newborn kids that get a chill at birth even in the summer time have a very slim chance of making it. They get respiratory problems within a couple of days from the chill and usually die. I am hoping with the getting the antibiotics into her fast enough and warming her inside with the strong coffee she will be okay. Right now you can't tell she was ever near death. She acts just like a normal newborn kid. She survived so far and is a very strong willed little girl. What a wonderful little blessing she has already become. Now I need to get busy and name her, DiDi's twins and Sonya's babies... I am way behind! DiDi's boys with Sonya's little girl and boy. Her other boy was sold yesterday and is doing great in his new home.