Magnus….the greatest
My daughter says that everyone needs something to strive for….so we named the smallest Gotland quadruplet Magnus. He was the third lamb born, slipping into the world with hardly a notice by mom. She was busy cleaning off baby number 2. His body was so tiny, I almost thought the lamb was born dead, but his lungs took in the cool night air and let out a cry. He was all skin and legs, thin and small. His mom cleaned him, giving nickers of encouragement. Though he only weighed 3 pounds, half the size of his biggest sister, he was vigorous and wanted to live. He quickly learned how to nurse, standing directly under mom and grabbing for her nipple.
Three days after Magnus was born, he was not doing well. He lay lifeless. His temperature was so low that it would not even register on my thermometer. Despite our tube feeding and helping him nurse, he was not getting enough nourishment to stay warm. So he spent a day in the house, bundled in my wool sweater, sitting in a box on a heat vent. Once he warmed up, I began trying to teach him to take a bottle, knowing that this little one would need supplementing along the way. By evening, he was ready to go back to the barn to be with his mom and sisters.
Since then, I have watched this little one. I take him a bottle several times a day. Sometimes he drinks a couple of ounces of my warm milk, and other times he just chews on the nipple. Magnus, for days, stood a little hunched up, as if his tummy did not feel well. Now, he is no longer hunched, but he does not run and play with the other lambs. Every now and then, you get a lamb like Magnus, one that for whatever the reason, is somewhat compromised. One that is not thriving at the same rate as the other lambs. One that is not getting enough milk to drink. One that must conserve energy. One who must spend every waking moment simply surviving. And it is these little ones that seem to steal our hearts.
Mom Kamila, is taking all this in stride, enjoying life with quads.
Magnus now weighs 5 pounds 3 ounces! When he grows up, he will be sold as a pet to someone who has a big heart for a little lamb. Email me if you would like to provide a home for him.
Cathy Beshore
Oh Kim, I should not have read your post, because now I’m thinking about Magnus. Two years ago and unexpectedly (I never thought I would ever have a chance to have a horse of my own), my husband and I adopted a Standardbred mare. I will always feel that she is a heavenly angel (fittingly, her name is Quill) sent by God, because she came into my life after a year of losing my father and brother. My husband and I have been looking for a property with some acreage, because I want to have her with us and not at a boarding facility. If things work out in the near future, I would absolutely love to add him to our family!
Kim Goodling
Animals have a way of bringing healing into our lives don’t they?
thecrazysheeplady
Awww 🙂
Karen
Hi Kim, I met your wonderful sheep and your husband at last years Adirondack sheep and fiber festival. I showed this email to my husband and he read it, we especially liked reading the story of Mighty Magnus! Your email stated that you were looking for a home for Magnus. Will he be staying with your family on your farm until July? A little bit about ourselves….. We live on a 100 acre farm in Hoosick Falls, NY. about 10 minutes from the Vermont border. We live next door to our In-laws, who own Hereford cattle, 8 adults and 5 new calves that were just birthed this Spring. My Pop owns the cattle, my husband helps out with them on a daily basis. Our family owns Chickens, we have 14, Buff Orpingtons and Speckled Sussex. One dog, Gigi a Lhasa Apso, and a Tuxedo Cat, who we affectionately call Felix. We have plenty of barns and plenty of room to add a pet sheep to our family. From the description I just gave you, do you think Magnus may be a good fit? Our goal is to raise sheep, I fell in love with the Gotlands when I met yours at the festival last year. I even have a future name for our farm already picked out…… “Gotta Get A Gotland Farm.” Kinda catchy, eh? Anyways, I just wanted to share a little bit about us with you and your husband. Finding a new home for your sheep is very important to you, I can imagine. My husband and I will pray about this and await to hear your reply. Blessings, Karen & Case Cottrell.