Across The Range

Erin and I had a wonderful time down in ID. Naomi and Ellie ended up coming back with us and we've been having a great time. :D They'll probably be staying for a few weeks. We plan to post pictures when get down to Graham's to use high speed.

Life hasn't slowed down. Tomorrow we are planning to process Graham's cattle and our cousin and his family are going to be stopping by in the evening for a visit.

I'm terribly behind on posting and hope to get back on a more regular schedule soon. Lots to post about!

Where did the weekend go? I was going to get a bunch of stuff done and, well, I guess I didn't. :P
Saturday morning the waterer overflowed at Graham's. Dad called Erin and I to come and help so he could clear the water/slush/ice out with the tractor. Part of the float had melted because it got to close to the heating element due to the water level being set lower and the cattle drinking it down too quick. So, Dad gave the float a half turn and got it working again. Half way home Dad realized he didn't have his glasses so we turned back and checked where he had been working but no sign of them. Thankfully he had just gotten another pair but you still hate when that type of thing happens. The waterer was still working last night but then sometime this morning the float must have filled with water turning it back to the spot it was before causing the second "flood." :P With the freezing temperatures it is kind of an icy mess and Dad noticed a couple calves walking stiff from probably slipping on the ice.

Dad's big steer pen is being shipped tomorrow. He sold them earlier on this week. This weekend they spent hanging a few gates and getting the load out area set up for cattle liners. Graham sold his heifers last week and they will be shipped out on Wednesday.

My steers aren't big enough to go yet. The price stinks right now so hopefully it will rise by the time they are ready. I had a calf die on my last week. :P So, it has all been kind of blah but I am an eternal optimist. To quote my uncle, "I'm an optimist and that is an awful way to go through life." Haha!

Erin made Kifli tonight...Mmm, it was good, especially because we haven't had it for a while. I made cheesecake of which I need to go put it in the fridge and then get to bed because we have to be up early tomorrow!

T oday started off early at 5 as Graham needed Erin and I to come help weigh calves and do a sort from two pens. It has been so hot (today was 35 C/95 F) at 10:30! We were just about finished the first pen when I was closing the gate to keep the group in the small area and up to the chute. Something I’ve done about a million times with no problem. One calf backed out of the alley leading up to the chute (Graham was trying to put the bar in to keep the calf in the alleyway), turned around and, I guess kind of went a bit crazy. He ran(in a short space) through a couple calves right into the gate I was in the process of closing. The gate slammed into my hand and face and sent me against the bigger alley into the boards hitting my head and shoulder. Ouch! Instantly I felt down by my right jaw swell up. It was the oddest feeling. Kind of reminded like those sponge things years again that you stuck in water and then they would inflate quick. LOL! Graham took my job and I thought I felt good enough to take weights and numbers but after about two I was feeling a little light headed and starting to feel worse. So, I went into the house to lay down while Graham and Erin finished weighing and sorting. Dad came with some gravel and he thought it would be a good idea to go to ER and get checked out, especially for my hand. I’m not usually one to run for medical care but I didn’t know how bad I had hurt my hand and jaw. I hate to leave an injury and make the problem worse.

So, I came home and Mom had heard the news already. She took it better than I thought but was still ready to kill that calf. LOL! Mom took me to ER and there was a sign showing a 2 -3 hour wait. Apparently, it had been a zoo there all morning with 7 ambulances arriving plus all the walk ins. Everyone was just talking how crazy it was and continued to be. I signed in and Mom stayed for a few minutes and then went and did some shopping. I’ll have to say one thing, everyone should go to ER (hopefully not as a patient!) once to see how blessed they are with their health. Seeing everyone else’s serious problems made me look like I was at the wrong place. The kid (probably 15?) in front of me had a potato gun fire on him (he ended up having 1st and 2nd degree burns). That brought back memories of our potato gun which I’ll have to post about sometime. Another guy (I’m guessing 18 or 20) was sitting there with a blanket wrapped around him. His parents and he had been sitting there for a couple hours already I was told and had just started shaking. His father went to talk to the nurse/receptionist and she took his temperature. As she just started to walk away, he fainted and someone else caught him. They got a stretcher and were putting him in the hall but still didn’t sound like he got in right away. It is terrible the wait times people have when they are seriously sick. Canada’s public health care is not by any terms a successful health system but I won’t start on that now. There were several others serious ailments but my hand keeps hitting too many keys right now...LOL!

My name was called after waiting about an hour or so and I was taken back to another room with about 6 or 7 people. Waited there for a while and then a doctor came and looked at my hand and jaw and decided to get a couple x-rays taken. She was nice…actually everyone was for being swamped with work and patients. There were no broken bones but the doctor thought I might have partially torn a ligament between my thumb and index finger. She called it gamekeeper’s hand or skier’s hand. Though it could be just very tender from the jarring movement of the gate. She wanted to play it safe so put a splint on my thumb and half way up my arm. In this type of situation she said it is better to play it conservatively rather than assuming it will heal alright. I ended up being in ER for 3 hours, most of which was waiting, which I didn’t think was too bad. I though it might be quite a bit longer seeing how hectic it was.

Mom said I should have told the doctor that is a was a cow or bigger calf. We are used to calling our animals feeder calves. He was about 800 LB. Oh well, I'm sure she figured that a 200 LB calf couldn't do that. LOL!

On Monday I am supposed to call a plastic surgeon. I know that sounds crazy and I didn’t think to ask why but that is who I am supposed to see. All my papers are sent over there so they’ll know who I am. From there the surgeon will take a look at it and see if I need a hand splint or not.

So, I am trying to take it easy. I’m still pretty sore and achy. My right shoulder is red and scraped up causing the most pain right now when I move (sometimes affecting my neck too) Just above my knee I have a big bruise/bump and my jaw is a bit sore. This evening I’ve had a bit of headache, not bad just kind of annoying. I haven’t taken any medicine yet but I might try some advil if I can’t get comfortable enough to sleep. I slept for a while this evening so I’m not really tired right now.

Prayers would be appreciated that I’d be feeling better soon. There is so much to do with the cattle (I’ve been doing the cell grazing everyday), canning (beans are ready now), etc. I hate feeling useless. :P Good thing you don’t have to read this as slow as I’ve been typing. LOL! Anyways, I’ll quit whining here. : )