Birthday month, sad disconnect, pigs, medical update

September is the month of the year that brings the most birthday celebrations for our family. Either eight or nine birthdays this month. I will have to confirm that count with Mama, but I know it will be a busy month to get all the remembrances and gifts out the celebrants. It is a fun month for me and Mama and hopefully for those of us that will celebrate another year accumulated to our account since our births. Mama has a landmark birthday this year as she enters her sixth decade.

For those of you that have a connection to our daughter Brittany, I hope you will keep those channels of communication open to her. Mama and I will have limited access to Brittany and the girls for a time because of things that are happening in those lives at this moment. With the divorce she and Andrew have elected to follow through on, to walk away from their ten years of marriage, both are making decisions that will produce less than beneficial outcomes for Zoe, Sophia, and Audrey – much less anyone else wounded in their personal battles.

Due to our lack of support for some of the hurried decisions Brittany is making in response to her newfound “freedom” (which may not prove out as the best of the decisions she could have made) Mama and I will be persona non grata to our daughter for a season. Mama’s and my serious questionings of those actions have angered Brittany whose focus now is on building alliances rather than seeking counsel or support – especially spiritual support. That will come later, hopefully. Mama and I will not take sides between her and Andrew since we really do not know what has happened between them to produce this crisis of choices. We can only pray for God to intervene and provide someone who will be allowed to provide the counsel Brittany and Andrew both need at this time. Friends in West Virginia, New Jersey and Texas are praying for Brittany and Andrew. It is never too late for God to do something wonderful!

A friend at church asked Mama the other day about buying a feeder pig to raise out. He is purchasing several this week and wanted to include us in the purchase if we wanted. We have talked about doing just that, but I am not persuaded that buying a pig which could grow to several hundred pounds is right for us. We do not necessarily need the pork since neither Mama, nor I do well with it. Also, pigs do far better when they have company and I am not ready to feed out two full sized pigs, so we decided to pass. However, as I was looking online, I came across a pair of Kune Kune pigs for sale. The price was a good one. The two are from the same litter and are about 18 months old. They are males that have been cut so they cannot breed. Among pigs, those are referred to as barrows. Just what I am looking for. Mama, on the other hand is still longing for a breeding pair.

I showed the Kune Kune siblings to Mama and she immediately called the seller. Mama and I are seriously considering getting the pair. They have grown about as big as they will ever be, about eighty pounds, and they have been raised as pets. Just right for our farm. If the need arises, we can process them, but they would be purchased to be pets. Live garbage disposals. Between them and the chickens, almost nothing edible would go to waste – and Grandma and Grandpa love feeding and caring for pigs. So do we. A win-win if the pigs are still available. They were yesterday evening when Mama called but we did not ask the sellers to hold the pigs for us since we wanted to sleep on the decision and make sure we prayed about it. After all, feed is not getting cheaper and taking on the new stock is a multi-year commitment.

Grandma and Grandpa got the results of their blood work today and the results were mixed. Since I was not there to hear the conversation or the explanation, I am relying on what I am being told. For Grandpa, the doctor has dual concerns for liver disease and prostate issues. For Grandma, the issues are more of a dietary concern since some of her numbers were over the upper limits for those results. Additionally, her bowel irregularity is a serious concern to the doctor. I am not sure what those discoveries will set forth as a prognosis or a prescriptive regimen, but I feel we have the right doctor on the case.

Grandpa declined several remedies offered which may have involved surgeries. Probably a good thing at his age and with his clotting history. He is willing to treat with medication, but little else.  Grandma will continue to do as she has been doing. She is not inclined to change her behavior on eating habits or food choices that have not, in her opinion, hurt her so far. It is not a fight that we can fight for her so we will go along to get along. All in all, a good report for each of them at their respective ages.

All systems “normal” – full speed ahead.