This morning I woke up to the mist blanketing the farm and surrounding hills. The low cloud cover seemed to spill down into the valley only to hush the song birds and cause the spring flowers to drip with morning dew. Dawn was bringing a new day whether I was ready for it or not and Pteridactal the rude hen took that moment to screech outside the nursery window successfully waking Sweet Baby Q. Good morning Melville.
I had to hustle my bustle to make it to to my day job by 7.30am. I may be wearing an outfit that resembles a certain purple dinosaur- for the second time this week-, I may have mis matched socks, I may be wearing a hat to cover the horror that is my hair, but Q and I began our office work shuffle right on time.  In the middle of finalizing a sizeable contract that sweet baby of mine began a powerful poo. She was in the front pack so I didn’t realise until it was too late how that poo exploded into the front pack, covered Q, and was seeping into my sweatshirt.  Grimacing, I pushed forward to finalize the contract and mail it, feeling the poo juice continue to spread. 
After I completed my office tasks for the day and opened the front pack to release Q it was worse than I imagined.  Unable to tackle the crappy problem in the back of my vehicle due to a 125 lb mineral block for the cows, or the back seat due to more farm paraphernalia, changing her in the front seat was a struggle to say the least. Q was then happy as a clam at high tide, but I remained aromatic and damp from our recent adventure.  Needless to say I felt very chic.
Q and I now push onward into our Friday.  We are off to feed animals, visit family, and attempt to “train” for the 5k I am running this weekend.  Poopy, happy, and busy I try to treat every day like a new adventure because ready or not the world is bringing me another one tomorrow.

The rain came down in sheets last night. Wind ripped through the air testing our newly built wood shed.  When we woke up the sun was shining, the birds were singing, our chickens were pooping on my front porch, and I noticed the daffodils emerging from the ground as a reminder that spring is just around the corner. Sweet baby Q however,  was vomitting.
Not only did we find out she has an ear infection and stomach bug, she’s coughing up a lung. She is tough. She is smiling and laughing when I would be throwing myself a pity party in a puddle of my own snot.
This morning I dragged her smiling and puking out on a consultation farm visit that I had to conduct for my day job. Her cute-baby powers (even at half strength) won over the hearts of those farmers, operators and government officials instantly.  She was running the show from her front-pack baby carrier and those men were wrapped around her slobbery fingers.
Rain blew in as the farm visit ended early afternoon so sweet baby Q and I were able to fit in hours of phone tag with doctors, clinics and labs. Many veteran parents most likely know how to tell when their infant needs medical help, but as a new mom I like to call my doc as if we were besties. Too many poop variances, puke characteristics, and freak symptoms for me to confidently navigate without consultation from a medical professional. In most circumstances I like to default to natural remedies, but when my 5 month old is quickly dehydrating, giving herself wry neck with her head cocked because of her ear ache, and choking on her phlegm, I need more than my essential oils (though I love my oils dearly).
I now know that everything stands still when that little girl gets sick. My new farm business, my day job, and the whole world pales in comparison to baby Q.
 Her smiles are free yet they are priceless and I will do absolutely anything to keep my girl smiling.

(Photo: picture taken on farm visit in Lewis and Clark Astoria, OR)