Oops! Some Corrections

My kids read my blog. I love that - it's not a private, secret journal but one in which I welcome them and others to read as I write about my life.

And they do. 

But that also means that once in a while I discover that I made an error in what I wrote. They don't always tell me about it, but if and when they do, I like to correct the record. So... here are two corrections.

Oops #1

Yesterday Jessica called me as she was heading with the kids to rehearsal.

As we talked, I was going on about her many roles in the production and she said, "Weeellll, Mom. That's actually not me in Lord Farquaad's court.

What?? Surely it is. I know what my daughter looks like and that IS Jessica. The smile, the dark hair, the pretty eyes.

"No, Mom, it isn't, although you are right - she really does look like me. I didn't realize how much of a resemblance there was until I read about it in your blog."

Call this mom embarrassed who mistook someone else for her own daughter. Yeesh!

Oops #2

When I wrote about the July birthdays, I put in a few things about each person. For Kyle I had written,

At eight or nine, Kyle was nearly blinded in his left eye when he got a stick poked into it.

Seeing that very visible slash across his eyeball was probably THE scariest moment of my life. Luckily, his eye healed and he is fine now.

That prompted some discussion among my kids as to what had really happened - there were several different memories. Finally, I asked Kyle himself. (Always go to the source! LOL)

He told me that he had been five or six and was playing with the boy who lived next door. They were having fun breaking sticks over their knees. Kyle had one that didn't snap, so he bent over it to give it more force. 

The stick snapped while he was bent over his knee and the broken end of one piece slashed across his eyeball.

That story still gives me the shivers.

Of course, then the kids began asking me about other childhood incidents and if they had been as bad. Especially's Curt's own eye incident, and yes, it had indeed been bad.

He was nearly blinded while playing with a glow in the dark Super Ball in the windowless bathroom with the lights off. He threw it hard and it bounced back and hit him square in the eye. Curt never saw it coming as the room was pitch black and the ball was moving so fast.

I can still hear his scream. 

Another visit to the ER and another bandage over an eye. The entire eyeball turned bright red from the broken blood vessels. Chilling for sure, but not quite as bad as a slashed eyeball. Curt's recovery was much longer, though, and he had to keep his eye still for several days. 

Seems like there was one more Oops! I'd made recently but I can't remember what it was. Hopefully whoever mentioned it will let me know so I can fix it.

More coming today - stay 'tooned!

Update - Abby's Eye

 In March, Abby's right eye began draining and soon it was clear that she had a case of conjunctivitis.

I began treating her with Terramycin daily, and Tim (best barn owner ever) told me that he'd medicate her eye, too, when he was out there if I'd like.

It took about ten days before her eye cleared up and soon I was no longer concerned about it. 

Until Tim texted and said he'd noticed a white spot developing on that eye.

We talked about it and I took some photos of the eye for Tim to send to a vet who had said he'd take a look at them for me.

The verdict wasn't bad, but I was still a bit disheartened. The vet said that it was scar tissue from an old ulcer or wound (probably this bout with conjunctivitis) but that it was far enough to the side that he didn't think it would inhibit Abby's vision much.

Tim asked if maybe it had been there before the recent eye issue, but I take enough photos of her that I knew it had not. 

It doesn't bother her and she can see my hand approach her eye from the side and from behind as normal, so the impact seems to be more cosmetic than anything.

It certainly doesn't slow her down as she hustles out to see me during our visits!

And if worse came to worst and she did go blind in that eye, she will be okay. The pastures, barns, horses, and people are very familiar to her. She will be okay regardless.

Barn Check - No Baby Yet

No foal yet! I've been going out twice a day to check on Sultanna, and yesterday morning she had a couple of visitors when I arrived.

I could see the two young girls from next door  had crossed the hay field and were over by the hay rack saying hello. 

Avery and Ronan did not know that Sultanna was in foal and were so excited when I told them! (So am I.)

Abby's eye is much better although I continue to medicate it. The cloudiness is minimal and hard to see. (It is evidence of Tim's skills that he could even see it - I can barely see it myself.)

Dolly is still the low horse in the herd order, so I made sure to walk down the fence and give her a treat.

Despite Sultanna's great size, there were no signs that foaling was imminent - no biting at her sides, pacing, or leaking milk.

It was windy again and raining when I went out in the late afternoon. (Unlike the previous windy day, the horses were still in the right pasture!)

Day two of being in charge of the herd is in the books - maybe today is the day I will discover a new herd member. I will be sure to post pictures as soon as Sultanna foals.

Stay 'tooned!

Early Spring at the Barn

 With Diablo and Trouble in new homes, Abby has become the alpha of the herd. 

Here she is leading everyone up to see me and clearly telling Hokey that he is to stay back. ("Those are MY treats she's holding!")

The herd has wintered well and especially enjoyed the addition of grain to their diets in January. 

Not atypical for spring, Abby has a bit of a weepy eye that I am watching. But besides that, she and her herd mates are doing well.

Dolly has settled in and she is the horse with the lowest status, but she still gets her grain and her treats. (She's a sweet mare.)

Early spring is wet and muddy, but we are glad it is here.

Rocky Balboa

Hokey was doing his best Rocky Balboa impression this afternoon.

He's bumped his eye on something and it is swollen half shut and weeping. However, Hokey's ability to eat carrots and hang out for scratching are most definitely NOT impaired!