Easter Eggs and associated Angst
April 20th 2007 01:18
It was good Friday when JazzyAngel brought me the eggs. After breaking open two cracked ones two things were confirmed - The are australian wild Black Ducks, and, even after extreme circumstances and cold, they were alive in there. So, I set up lamp and wait.
And wait and wait and wait.
Honestly, Ive got about 100 email notifications that I havnt checked, that I want to reply to, two poems Ive been wanting to post, but heres how it went down -
I went to a job interview yesterday. It went well despite being late (I got there an hour early so I wouldnt be late, but thats what you get for taking directions from a garbage man and ending up on Alfred st south instead of north) but after the interview Im feeling fine, made it home by 2:30pm, which is pretty good, and Im thinking, right, get Najara out of her room, share some noodles, and get Orbling! Im envisioning a whole Friday of writing and reading and commenting, with a Thursday afternoon filled with fellow Orblers.
And I cant see Mags. Im thinking, "Its cool, its cool, hes fine, dont panic" but I rush straight down there and....
He HOBBLES toward me "Mum, somethings wrong" He moans, and I can see by his swaying and hesitant gait something is indeed, very wrong. "Poisoning" I think, looking at his swaying hocks "My god, hes gotten into a poisonus plant, its stringhalt, I know it, hes a goner" I tie him up, and begin examination.
A twisted nail head hangs out of his foot. I give it a yank. No go. Get the pliers. 600kg of horse is not happy and now leaping about three legged cos Ive jiggled the nail. Grab foot. Hang on for dear life. Grab with pliers....PULL!
The bastard comes out. Wickedly rusted and twisted. Im ready to hit the wound with Iodine in case of infection, punctures are bastards for closing up instantly and trapping bacteria inside,
(All this, mind you, still in suit, high shoes, makeup and jewellery)
But it BLEEDS! It pours out blood like Ive never seen! Sure, the hoof has a great blood supply, but Ive never seen bleeding like this from a hoof!
So tons of gauze and two towels later it stops....Abruptly and all by itself. After ringing mum to let her know the situation, I call the vet, feed everyone else. Vet comes. Detailed descriptions of where the nail was, how far it pentrated etc. I get chewed out(rightly so) for letting such a magnificent horse get a nail in his foot in the first place. Mags gets two intravenos injections, and two tetanus shots, and a footwrap. Hes wandering about not even lame, wondering what the fuss is all about. I get his medication and instructions.
I collapse into bed, so complacent about the eggs I hadnt even moved them before I left for my interview - they were in full kitty zone. For a night owl like me, going to be at 9pm is UNHEARD of!
About 6am I hear....Something. Head pops up. Kennys cat Sampson has wedged himself between wall and duck egg cage, pulling out the cord for their light and they now have no heat. Im not really surprised - just because theres a cage around it they think it must be prey(mum always puts tasty things in cages) and have been watching it incessantly. At this point Sampson is actually chewing on the bars. Hmmf! A whole hour before I planned to get up!
So I go, chase him off, plug light back in....
And I notice a crack. A pulsing crack. A tiny dent. And.....Cheeping? Far off cheeping?
Momma should have listened to her cats before she gave up hope. Their sensitive ears would have been picking up the tapping days ago. The heartbeats, the breath rhythyms.
Approx three hours later I helped Wist/Wyrm from the shell. Wist if a girl, Wyrm if a boy. Another egg has started cracking but Im worried - I was a bit over zealous and pulled off a tiny winy piece of shell and there was blood - so of course, now Im thinking, that ones gonna die and its all my fault! The second duck(whichever that may be) will be named Ash, a nice, assexual name, for someone who has had utmost faith in these babies from the very beginning! Since Im now reading 'dragonflame' the rest will recieve Dragon names. Good, strong names.
So, to round up....I WILL get to replying to comments, I WILL get to posting my poetry....Im just a little tied up being Duck Mummy at the moment.
This post has taken forever to write, as every two words I have to go check on Wist/Wyrm and brothers and sisters!
Im really hoping more hatch....I dont want little bub to be all alone!
See you when the babies are stable - be patient, Im on my way!
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Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
how excited am I??? thanks K... *hug*
these are my babies (well kinda everyone`s babies but I feed them most mornings)...
they will have to get acquainted at some stage....
all the best with the interview, let us know how it goes! healing hugs to Mags
ash
PS. GO THE DUCKS!
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Awwww so cute, so georgous... how wonderful *clapping my hands*
*filled with delight at your story*
...great sadness for Magnus though... *sending healing* to the third little duck too... please let us know if he makes it?
wow : great post, take rest ... you'll probably get the job now too, as it comes in three's!
Lilla ....
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Especially thanks Lilla....I hope I get the job! I hope your right!
And special thanks to Ash for having a faith that I didnt...
UPDATE!
Wist/Wyrm is doing great but Im trying not to get excited...Early life is never sure. I just made her some duck mush and we'll see if she wants to eat.
I think Ive made a huge mistake with duck 2. If I had never made a hole it would have done it all in its own time - but no, Im a wicked human and I couldnt wait, so, by opening the egg Ive made sure its oxygen dependant before its ready! I left it alone most of the day but paniked when the cheeps lessened in intensity and made the hole bigger. The beak is sticking out, ducks moving but not really cheeping now, and there is still some blood. Im not going to help it further yet - I shouldnt have done any permanent damage (fingers crossed) even if it was too early in its current position the umbilicus should still close and all SHOULD be well....Its a waiting game now, the fact that its still moving is encouraging.
As for eggs 3 and 4, I can only hope they make cracks of their own soon...
And keep remembering, Ive seen mommy ducks KICK the eggs about at the first sign of cheeping, with no adverse effects!
And birth aint exactly a clean process....
Prayers everyone! For all four duckie bubs!
And mags?
Walkin fine on his bandage, and lovin his cocktail of drugs...If a little bored. Like most patients!
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
How's the little one's going ...especially the last one... and Mag's hoof?
Update please... when you have a minute... no hurry...
Lilla ...