This almost feels like a "repeat" story...... from when our jennet,Texas, foaled "Shooter" back in April.

The only difference is that I had actually been watching Noelle....more out of concern that I had made her feet sore when I gave her a "pedicure" the day before. Noelle doesn't lay down much and she had been laying down quite a bit since she had her hooves trimmed. With no signs (i.e. milk bag was not ready, etc) I didn't even think - labor. AND....Noelles foal wasn't due until 9.13.10....

I had just dozed off again after checking her at 330 am. so imagine my surprise when our friend (and Marestare'er) Dayle, called right before 4:00 am and said that she had been watching our cam and Noelle had just had a huge butt tuck. I got my wits about me and zipped down to the barn (just knowing that it COULDNT be baby time.) Just about as quickly as Noelle saw me, she laid down and started pushing..... All went by the book and it wasn't long and we could see little spotted legs...then a pink & spotted nose! After the foal was born, it took only a few minutes for this beautiful little jack to get up on his feet - never fall or even teeter- and after taking a few minutes to check out his new world, found the milk bar. Just precious!

After all was said and done, I looked at Bill and said to him, "So much for Noelle being predictable..." and dear hubby said, "Duly Noted"..... and there was this boys name! It fits him well. The looks he has on his face as he is discovering new things is just that.... "duly noted"

Otis is a tri-colored spot. Along with all the large patches of brown and white, he has several small black spots and swipes on his face, ears and legs. Way to go Noelle and King!

Special THANK YOU again to Dayle for the phone call!

Otis and all the other babies love visitors! Give us a call and come see why we love them so much!

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We have such a wonderful network of people that watch our donkey family on our cam and thru Marestare.com. Thank you to "TNHoney" for the great videos! (Make sure to catch Bill's "Happy Dance" on the second video)

Our heads are still spinning! Though April 26th was her foaling due date, Texas gave no signs that she was anywhere near ready to give birth to her foal. When I state no signs, I mean ZIP, ZERO, NADA.....well, you get it!

And here is how the story goes......

On Monday night about 8:45pm I was making my last rounds before cleaning up and tucking myself in for the night. And just as soon as Texas saw me, she plopped herself down on the floor of her stall......and was pushing! WHAT???!!! Yep, pushing!

In just a few minutes, she shot out the tiniest little bundle - so tiny, he didn't look real! Shooter was up and walking around in 10 minutes and all was fine with the world! Texas has wanted a foal she could call her own as long as we have had her. She gazes at all our babies in wonderment. Now she has her own to love - and she does!

Since Texas (and Diana) are "Texans" - it was only appropriate to name this little one something in recognition of their home "country". Several days of trying to come up with the perfect name for this little one had come and gone without much success. And then, there we were sitting on our deck, drinking a cup of coffee, and our recent trip to visit our daughter and family came up. We always get tickled at the name of the small town near their home, and the 'lore of the name. "....gonna cut around the corner, and shoot at 'em thru the bushes!" Only in Texas! Cut & Shoot, Texas that is! And we had his name!

Shooter is the smallest foal we have had at PPH. Everyone exclaims that he looks like a stuffed toy - and he really does! Perfect in every way! He and his brother, Rowdy, are living up to their name and play like little boys love to play.

Shooter loves visitors! Give us a call and come see why we love him so much!

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We have such a wonderful network of people that watch our donkey family on our cam and thru Marestare.com. I don't know how "TNHoney" was able to catch and record this birth - but she did! (and now the whole world can see me trying to act "cool and collected" at the birthing whirlwind! haha) Thank you for the great video!

Well, Precious kept us on our toes and wide awake again this year - On Wednesday April 14th I was making rounds checking both of the jennet's in the "momma-to-be" suite, and when I looked at Precious - her milk bag was engorged. Precious' foal was not due until May 6th , so I thought it was just her milk getting ready - it sure was!! She had white milk! Statistically, when a jennet has white milk she will foal within 48 hours. So.... we watch - and watch...... and wait - and watch. Forty-eight hours comes and goes - and another ..... about one hundred and thirty hours later........... the labor show began.

Bill and I prayed and prayed for everything to be fine as this baby was coming into the world a little early. Our prayers were definitely answered, and 'round about midnight", little Rowdy came in to this world. This little guy was wiggling and "baby braying" before he was out of his mother! Had us laughing and crying at the same time! We checked him from head to toe and everything was just fine. Rowdy was up running around and nursing from Precious in 45 minutes. No "preemie" conditions at all - what a sigh of relief!

My dad called me the next morning and said he had a name for us to consider - it was PERFECT! Thanks dad!

Below is the video of Rowdy's birth (and Bill's happy dance!) - captured by TNHoney on Marestare! Thank you TNHoney!