The Tale of Two Preemies: Farmers Feeding...Pancakes

Friday, March 2, 2012

Farmers Feeding...Pancakes

So, it's not really Friday. I've been getting sick about once a week for the last month and for some reason it seems to hit Thursday or Friday. You'd think I'm in my first trimester instead of my last. So without further ado, your Friday on the Farm...

Last Sunday our local FFA chapter had their annual pancake breakfast. Anytime we can go somewhere close for Sunday lunch that I don't have to cook, we're there. Even though Pat grew up on the farm, he was never a part of FFA at his school. I wasn't either. However, I fully expect my kids to at least try it when they get to be in 7th grade. Our school has a pretty strong ag program, which is unusual for a small school. It shouldn't be, but with budget cuts, the ag program is typically one of the first to go. At our school, they've worked hard to keep it.

Anywhoozle, while we were at the pancake breakfast, Pat was talking to one of the dad's who is involved with the FFA alumni group at our school. He was working hard at trying to get Pat involved. One of the things that a lot of kids don't have experience with is artificial insemination (AI). Pat being the sucker, I mean, good guy that he is, he told him to give him a call when they have their next meeting. I think it'll be good for Pat to be involved at school, especially with a group of kids who are interested in agriculture. A lot of the kids in FFA don't have much experience with dairy at all and I think it's really important to educate. If we get a chance to do that while they are in high school, then when they become adults they will be able to educate others.

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Cole's Story

Cole was born at 30 weeks 3 days, much to our surprise, in 2006. I went in to the hospital because I wasn't feeling well and was afraid I'd get dehydrated. I ended up being air lifted to a larger hospital where Cole was born 24 hours later. He weighed in at 4 lbs. 2 oz. and was 17" long. He had some developmental delays, mostly due to acid reflux. He also had positional plagiocephaly and was in a remolding helmet for 6 weeks. At 14 months he underwent a cardiac catheter procedure to close his PDA. At 25 months he tripped getting out of his kiddie pool and broke his femur. He was in a cast from his hips to his toes for 4 long weeks. He also broke his shoulder at age 5 1/2. His latest medical drama has been a cyst in his left ear. He's had his adenoids removed and another surgery to remove the cyst. He'll have a second surgery in August. He's been through the ringer, but you'd never know it. He just rolls with the punches. He's 100% farm boy. He wants to know how everything works and why. He loves the farm. Farming is definitely in his blood.

Tate's Story

Tate was born at 34 weeks 2 days in 2008. Since I had a previous premature delivery, I was on high alert for another one. It didn't help. We had ultrasound after ultrasound and everything looked great. Tate, however, was not patient. I was admitted to the hospital with preterm labor. He held off for a couple of days, but was still born early. He weighed 5 and a half pounds and was 19" long. Fortunately he had no problems and was released from the hospital 3 days after he was born. He was born the middle child. He desperately wants to do what his big brother does, but has his own interests and wants Cole do to those with him. He's my trouble-maker, fit-thrower, and snuggle bug.