Josie's Babies Are Here!

    I just KNEW Josie was going to have her babies today...for two reasons.  1.  She was hanging out off by herself yesterday and this morning.  2.  Youn'gun had a fieldtrip and I was going to meet him for it.  It must be written in stone somewhere around here if there is an end-of-the-year school fieldtrip/function, and lambs are due, the birthing process will win hands down.  This has happened more than once.  Consistency seems to be my middle name when it comes to fieldtrips and lambs.  My apologize so the school and one of our children yet again.  
    So anyway, back to the story.  This morning  Josie was lounging off by herself, looking a bit uncomfortable - as if a hugely pregnant ewe could look any more uncomfortable.  I went about morning chores (which really aren't chores to me unless it's cleaning up poop) and would glance over her way to see what she was up to.  Every once in a while she'd get up, move a bit, and lay back down.  In doing this she was inching closer and closer to the barn stall where she's had her lambs in the past.  When she got into the stall I'd peek over the gate while geese screamed at me (another story) to see how she was doing.  I like to think she didn't know I was doing that, but between the geese and my inability to be "stealth-y" I'm sure she knew.  
    Late this morning Josie couldn't keep them in any longer.  It was time.  Those babies were coming out fieldtrip or not!  I have to say Josie is the absolute best sheep-mom!  She's had triplets and she's had twins, all of them having been birthed well and wonderfully taken care of.  Josie had the moorit, that means brown, I think it's a ewe lamb first.  Easy peasie, of course I was peeking in and not the one delivering.  Then after working at cleaning her up and a bit of one-on-one time she delivered the second I think it's also a ewe lamb.  That little cutie patootie is moorit and white.  Josie continued to clean up and care for her babies, taking care with both to make sure they nursed and stuck around her like they should.  After that I went in and put up a divider so the new family can have some time together without the other busy bodies getting too close and checking out the new babies.   
    Josie let me take a few pictures without stomping her foot (she indulges me sometimes) and they are all resting comfortably.  So, there you have it.  Extra...extra..read all about it!  Josie, the most wonderfully fantastic 8 year old Icelandic ewe on the planet (yes, I'm bias) had herself a pair of I think they're both ewe lambs.  I'll check in on them later to make sure they're both ewes.  I didn't want to overstay my welcome.  Smiling & Waving, Sharon
    

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