Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Lambs Must Nap!

I'm starting to think that I’m just a highly essential, movable napping spot. 

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Princess Zara of Arapawa

A befitting title for our little lady!

 

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Welcome Zara!

Zara, the Ghost of Arapawa!  A working title for our little lady. Her bleat is a bit scary sounding.

Our little lady just finished her 8pm feed, now to monitor to see if she swells up. Interestingly earlier she drank water from a bowl with no issues. This time I've adjusted the bottle teat and used a fresh mix from the yoghurtised probiotic milk. She's a very quick learner when it came to feeding from the bottle. Got it pretty much the first go.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Lamb Update

I think we need a name for this   little lady... any suggestions?

Kara the Arapawa? (Her Mum is affectionally known as Karen).

Lara the Arapawa?

Zara the Arapawa?

At the 7.30pm check, she had blown up again and wasn't keeping up with mum and her twin. So, I have made the call... we have a new house baby. Hand raising her, I will have more control of her health care.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Lamb Troubles

So, we have a little 3-day old lamb with bloat, which is a little unusual as the lamb is with mum and not a bottle-fed lamb.

Both sides were sticking out, arched back and lethargic. Mum actually abandoned it this morning until I reunited the family.

After consulting the vet, we put a feeding tube down it's throat into its tummy to release some of the gas.

The right side had some improvement, and the left side had a lesser amount of improvement.

I spent a little time gently massaging the lambs belly and tried to encourage it to fart and burb its way to good health 😅.

We then reunited the lamb with its mum and it's twin sibling. 

The plan is now to monitor it today/overnight and if it improves good. If it doesn't and things worsens, redo the tube down the throat and then start feeding it a yoghurtised probiotic milk formula... at which point we will have to hand raise it so we can closely monitor it feeding. I'll make up a small batch tonight just in case.

It's a sweet little girl, so I want it to survive if we can make that happen.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Arapawas First Sip

Arapawas First Sip

Three little faces, black and white,

Peeking over, a curious sight.

"See, little ones, how we must sip,"

Mum, teaching them from the trough's cool lip.

A lesson learned, a thirst allayed,

In the green field, a memory made.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Girlie & Lambing Issues

On my return home from a wool show, I could see Girlie (my favourite ewe) was in labour and having difficulty. She was on her side, legs in the air, and she was pushing but with no progress. Last year we had to call the vet out and she lost both babies. Both lambs were very large for a small ewe.

We put Girlie in the pen, and with the vet on the phone, we birthed two rather large lambs.  We had difficulty with the first lamb, but the second lamb pretty much popped out. But so far Mum and lambs seem to be ok.

I'm so happy for Girlie, she's a great Mum and she really deserves these babies.

Link to Video on Facebook

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - A Parkinson's Update

"Do you want to work" was the question that my neurologist asked me at my recent hospital appointment. 

I had been querying with the Doctor as what do other people do for money who have found themselves in my situation with Parkinson's mid life.

The doctor replied "He couldn't answer that, but do you want to work?" 

My answer was and still is "Yes". Not only do I miss the money, the regular money... the pleasurable problem and delimma of having a disposable income... but I miss the social aspect, I miss people.

Me missing people? Yup even I was surprised!

There's only so much satisfaction that can be obtained by talking to the sheep. Even Blake has had enough... the other day, I sat down next to him for a catchup, a chin wag of sorts, and as soon as I was comfortable Blake got up, walked about 5m away, then sat down again! How rude! 

I've tried various attempts at self employment but either my endeavors are not making money or my body, is holding me back due to my Parkinson's. Also due to my Parkinson's being very visible, I cannot hide my condition, making me unemployable.

So; do I want to work? YES

Can I currently work? NO

I need to get on top of my Parkinson's symptoms and issues.

Step 1: Increase medication.

This is my daily pill intake, plus a good amount of dairy probiotics to settle gut and bowel issues.

Step 2: Investigate whether I would be suitable for DBS (deep brain stimulation)

DBS is a surgical procedure for Parkinson's that involves implanting electrodes in the brain to send electrical pulses to manage symptoms like tremor, rigidity, and slowness of movement.

I've been  very resistant to the idea of having mechanical devices implanted in my body... especially the brain! But as time passes, and my condition worsens I am growing very tired of being sick... every bloody day, sick of being sick.

So my resistance to DBS is lessening as my desire to feel normal again increases.

We are at the stage, and I am agreeable to, is to investigate whether I would be even a suitable candidate for DBS surgery. It's not a straight forward process... it will take many months and trips to Auckland.

That's where I am at.

Tired of being sick, but open to new treatments.

Life Down Wattle Lane v2 - Our First Lamb of 2025