Gaining strength everyday

"Sonny Boy" (we're trying this name on for size) Royal Son aka Sonny Boy, has been getting stronger every day. He is so cute and he is finally up to the weight he was before he started nursing, so we think that we've turned the corner and Silly is producing enough milk. He's quite a hot rodder at sunset and early in the morning, and his idol is Mr. D whom he imitates all the time. Julia is his good friend...she helped me talk him to the vet in Blanco on the 24th and I think he remembers that she held him and fed him a bottle during the trip.

We have lift off!

Well, it has been a long time coming, but little boy started nursing Silly, just a few minutes ago! (I am so relieved that I can probably skip the 3am and 6am feedings!) I think I will still have to give him a supplementary bottle for a while until she has enough milk to feed him, but, boy! are we relieved! He weighs 13.6.

Now we have to officially name him...got a few ideas, but not decided just yet!

Breathing a long, exhausted sigh....

A Difficult Birth.....

Hi...the last few days have been really hectic, but the bottom line is that we have a beautiful white baby boy cria. (not named yet).

Silly starting acting strange on Tuesday, lots of pacing and "moaning" and she seemed really uncomfortable on Wednesday night, so I got up and checked on her every two hours. By Thursday morning she was really in distress, so we called the vet. He came out and tried to examine her and take an ultra sound, which was inconclusive, and her pelvic exam he thought he could feel the baby's ribs. We decided that it looked like she needed a cescerian so he went back to prepare and we started hooking up the trailer, and by that time she wouldn't stand up, so you should have seen Kim and Diana and me trying to carry her (192 pounds) to the trailer! When we got to the vet, and opened up the back door, we could see the baby's head out. Long story shorter, she had one leg in front, and the other locked behind her, so the doctor had to help deliver him. He's really tiny (10 pounds) and is pretty stressed from the birth so we've had to give him plasma and tube feed him (in the parking lot of Wal Mart in San Marcos with Rhonda Deshner), and bottle feed him every two hours, since he is still not strong enough to stand up and nurse). So....we're tired, but hopeful that both he and Silly will be okay.

Mr. D's games

Mr. D is quite a card. He loves to hot rod and he plays a bump and run game with the "ladies". They all fuss at him and he usually backs off, but he's especially bad with his sister, Carmella. It's fun to watch and I think secretly the girls think he's cute!

Baby Cole Meets Mr. D

This has been an extraordinary Christmas! We were visited by our daughter, Mindy and her husband Carl with our new grandbaby, Cole! The 11 days they spent with us were great! It has been a long time since we've had a baby around, and Cole is the greatest! On the day he left he met "Mr. D" and they "bonded"! It was pretty funny to see each of them checking the other out! We can't wait until they come back and Cole can really get to know the alpacas!

Christmas Baby!

We had a late Christmas present from Minnie...a new boy cria born on the 28th! His name is "Mr. D" and he is the first cria of Rigoletto (a Dom Lucilio son). He was born without any problems and everyone is doing fine. His face is great and he's got a great personality! We're having a great time!