13 hours.

First of all -

Here is me feeding Alex Jr.  She is my sweetie.  We cuddle and she naps in my arms.

I woke up this morning at about 6:30 to the sound of babies crying on the baby monitor in the kitchen.  I really thought I was going to be too tired to get up and feed them, but I didn't anyways.  I really hate the sound of them crying, so I wanted to get out as soon as I could.  If their pens are silent, it means they're satisfied (moms know the drill).

After the babies were fed, we fed everyone else, except the bunnies.  There were no births going on, so we weren't terribly busy.  Last night, Hummingbird caught two roosters planned for slaughter and put them in a dog kennel so they would be there whenever we were ready.  It was kind of funny to see them in there and I almost took a picture, but realized it was a little morbid, considering why they were in there... Anyways, Vicky was going to show us how to slaughter and cut up a chicken.  It was really sad and even though I am okay with the logic of it and literally every part of the chicken is used, it's just sad and I am not sure if I could ever do it myself, unless I really had to.  After the chickens are killed and drained of blood, you take them to a pot of boiling water and dunk them in neck first (they don't have heads at this point) for 15 seconds, to loosen the feathers.  It was really interesting watching all of this happen and seeing the inside of a chicken.  It also gave me some more respect for Vicky (I already have so much!) because she can do/handle anything.  She's really amazing.
Since I had watched enough, I walked into the pens to check on a goat in labor named Carrie.  She had been in labor and pushing awhile, without much progress.  Vicky began to worry, so she woke up John.  He had the gloves and the jelly.  He had to go in!  Lindsay came out to help, she is an amazing goat midwife.  The other goats really wanted to be involved in the action and were causing problems, since it was quickly becoming a very difficult birth.  In situations where goats are being annoying, you simply need to bribe them with food.  Lindsay asked me to get a bucket of grain.  When I came back, John was standing at the big gate and said they were in a time crunch and he needed me to shake the bucket and walk towards the back pasture...  Before my tired mind had time to comprehend, I was being chased by goats.  It was really scary, I was so not prepared for that at all!  I got trapped a couple times and heads were weighing down the bucket at times, but we finally made it back there.  I think Lindsay helped, too, but it happened so fast, I can't remember... plus I was in fibro-fog all day long and sleep deprived... That kind of puts a damper on my brain.
After that, I decided to feed the bunnies.  They had 3 hands already for Carrie's birth and I was exactly sure that I wanted to watch.  I walked to the upper garden to pick some kale for them and I heard the worst screams coming from Carrie.  It was awful.  I walked back down and Vicky said she was worried they might lose her, but that it was really important I was there to watch and learn.  I was on the verge of a mental breakdown and I can't believe I held it in.
Carrie had one huge baby blocking the other two.  Only the giant one came out the right way, which is what caused her to scream like that (it was so loud).  The other two work backwards and John had to go in each time and try and re-adjust their positions, but they ended up coming out backwards.  They just needed to come out quick.  Finally, they were all out and Carrie was doing fine.  It was so scary, though, and very hard to watch.  But I did watch.  We named the babies Oreo (he looked like one.. but made out of goat), Vertigo (since he came out backwards, and Indigo (it rhymed).  After Vertigo came out, we weren't sure if Carrie was going to have another one.  Someone suggested the name Indigo, but it was vetoed because it's a girl's name.  And John said 'Well, Indigo is in there waiting to come out, I bet.'  And she did!  Everything was okay and she got moved into here own little pen to be with her babies.

Then it was time to feed the other babies, because we separated them from their mothers today.  Vicky and I went in and I had babies crawling all over me and sucking on my fingers like this:

It was awesome.
Baby goats are the best things ever.

Then after a little break, I finally had time to feed the bunnies.  As I walked towards the back with my bucket, I thought to myself 'We haven't checked on the does in the back for awhile... I bet someone's in labor.'  Sure enough, Biscotti had twins.  Thankfully, her birth went by easy and quick!  And there are only 3 or 4 pregnant does left.  Then things won't be so crazy.

I fed the bunnies and recovered from the emotional roller coaster of the day.  I took a half hour nap and made dinner

(The beats, turnips and kale were all collected from the garden!  And I threw a green and purple spotted egg in there from my favorite chicken.  Mmm..)
Vicky and I fed the babies again and now it's time for bed.  I'm exhausted.  Even though today was emotionally and physically demanding, it's so worth it.  You do it all willingly, because you love the animals.  And at the end of the night, you go to sleep with a happy heart and a full belly.