Carla D-Great new adventures and an Amazing Life

[Senile_Texas_Aggie]

Miss @Carla D,

Haven't heard from you in awhile and am wondering how you are doing.

Senile Texas Aggie

 

[Carla D]

Miss @Carla D,

Haven't heard from you in awhile and am wondering how you are doing.

Senile Texas Aggie

Hello. It’s been a pretty tough 2-3 weeks. One thing after another around here. I had been thinking I didn’t mind this cold weather of winter. I am learning otherwise. I’ve been in to see the doctor countless times this month. I may have a stress fracture in one small bone in my left hand. So I’ve been wearing a brace when I’m at the farm, moving furniture, things I shouldn’t be doing. Long story short my dr. thinks I’m experiencing a fibromyalgia flare, one that’s different than any I’ve had to this point in time. Needless to say my pain level is the highest it’s ever been. Very likely all because of the cold weather.

We are looking at some really extremely cold temperatures this week with the worst being tomorrow. The high temp being -15F and the low being -35F. My husband isn’t too pleased with me. But, he did give in to my need to get all of our animals in the barn this afternoon and until the temp warms up a bit. We possibly have 2 gilts and 2-3 sows that are likely pregnant. I didn’t think they should be outside for these temps. Their water starts to ice over after I pour it in less than 20 minutes. If they are in the barn their water won’t freeze quite as fast. And all of those bodies in the barn should create a little additional heat for everyone. We were in the super cold today for three hours shifting pigs around. One of our gilts was very obviously shivering. I didn’t know they shivered anytime other than after they farrow. The other gilt, she was in the barn as soon as she was set free and had access to the barn. Even the big sows didn’t chase her out of the barn. She must have been pretty cold. Kinda makes me wonder if I’m too soft where our animals are concerned or is my hubby and FIL not overly concerned about the things like our animals needing water at least three times a day when it’s so blastedly cold outside. They only go out there once a day. Leaving me to take on the responsibility of making sure they have water more than once through out the winter. He didn’t even think it was necessary to bring all of our pigs into the barn. Everyone else already had access of lives in the barn. We even closed an additional door to keep some of the frigid out. I’m ready to u my roots and move at least six hours south of here. I can’t even warm up tonight.

I do feel pretty out of touch lately. I’ve got a lot of learning to do and a bunch of building as well. We want to raise rabbits, actually hubby does. We also want a mess of chickens for meat and eggs. Gotta learn what I can before spring. I’d also like to get 3-5 more goats for milk and a small amount of breeding. I think I want to do Alpine goats.

How have you been doing lately? Is it pretty cold for you as well? I wonder if this cold is regional or national.

 

[Bruce]

The super nasty cold is mostly in the midwest. I don't think you are wrong to get the animals in. You are NOT having normal low temperatures and wind chills.

 

[Senile_Texas_Aggie]

Miss @Carla D,

It's been cold here but nothing unusual.

I am so sorry you are having to go through so much turmoil. Having an illness that causes you trouble even in good weather, and causes you more trouble when the weather is horrible, makes for a tough period in your life right now. I have never raised any farm animals -- I have only had pets in my 66 years on this planet -- so I will have to defer to others as to how care for farm animals. But my gut says to do whatever you can to save those animals from this brutal cold you are experiencing. Please know we all care about you and want you and your family to be happy and healthy. Thanks for providing the update.

Senile Texas Aggie

 

[Carla D]

The super nasty cold is mostly in the midwest. I don't think you are wrong to get the animals in. You are NOT having normal low temperatures and wind chills.

Even our hairy huge boar was shivering. He’s our only critter that could have possibly tolerated this cold. He does have a nice house that he prefers being outside. They are all in the barn now and have huge piles of straw in all 4 pig pens. The goats have been fluffed, puffed, extra hay, grain, bedding and water. Bunnies are buried in a lot of grass, straw, and hay. Kitties even have special accommodations. They should be comfortable for next 2-3 hours when we go back out there to check on them.

 

[Carla D]

I don’t know which I dislike more. My having fibromyalgia or this crazy, blast of arctic temperatures. The one of only two places I can go to escape my fibromyalgia pain, the farm and the cabin is causing me so much pain right now. It feels like I’ve busted a rib behind my chest. I keep pushing through it. It’s most likely fibromyalgia anyways. But there isn’t really any treatment for a broken rib as well. I really need to see some 50-85 degree weather. To warm me up, so I can slow down my work pace, and possibly sit back and enjoy our critters. It’s been so blasted cold that we are working so hard and so fast just to get out of the cold. I feel like I’m going to kill myself because I’m working so hard and fast, and almost always doing the chores alone. Please make this weather warm up. Even 30 degrees would relieve so much of my pressure right now. To top things off our apartment/townhouse is cold as well. The boiler can’t keep up with this cold. It got down to 60 degrees in here overnight. That’s cold even with an electric blanket on high. I’m going to try and rest a bit and warm up before I have to go back out to the farm in a couple of hours. If it’s really cold out where you live please stay warm, safe, and dry. If it’s above freezing where you live please enjoy and/or appreciate it. This is the coldest weather I’ve ever experienced in my 46 years.

 

[Carla D]

Carla,if you have extra blankets and or comfortors...use a few under your bed sheets for you and your daughter...it really will help hold more heat in. Living through many years of cold nasty artic blast storms, we would wear sox and hats to bed along with long johns.....this is no time for fashion girlfriend, layer up yourself and daughter and hop in bed together...

That’s funny you said that. I have placed my oversized heating pad under my sheet with the hopes of keeping it in place. I never thought of blankets to keep warm in under my sheets. Great idea.

 

[Senile_Texas_Aggie]

Miss @Carla D,

All of us here on BYH sincerely hope you and your family can make it through this cold spell and that your pain will lessen. Maybe others can have more ideas like Miss @B&B Happy goats to help you stay warm.

Senile Texas Aggie

 

[Carla D]

Miss @Carla D,

All of us here on BYH sincerely hope you and your family can make it through this cold spell and that your pain will lessen. Maybe others can have more ideas like Miss @B&B Happy goats to help you stay warm.

Senile Texas Aggie

I’ll be fine “Fine Texas Aggie” I am going to break down and go to the ER. I really do hate the ER. I’ll let you know what I find out when I can. My DH finally believes that I’m in too much pain to do chores this morning. He volunteered to do all of the chores by himself this morning.

 

[Bruce]

Is there an immediate care facility nearby? They can often treat thins as well as an ER and cost a lot less. They don't have to cover major trauma patients, etc.