We don't get sick days....

Last week I was the lucky recipient of a nice summer cold that set last Tuesday and still hasn't completely left (although I’m much better now).  Last Wednesday I took off work to go to the doctor because I thought I had strep throat.  Turns out it was a nasty sinus infection.  So, I got some meds & figured I’d be better in no time.  Thursday I went to work & ended up leaving ½ a day because I was sick to my stomach & ended up “losing my lunch” when I arrived home.  I continued that thru the afternoon, and by the evening the nausea had subsided.  I was able to keep down a little soup, but barely had the energy to move from the couch to my bed that evening and decided I would be the person who shows up to work vomiting and cause others to get sick (which is the exact way I came down with being sick in the first place), so I chose to stay home Friday from work.   I was able to get some much needed rest Friday at home & the doctor prescribed me a different medication as well.  Friday afternoon I was feeling much better, but my sweet husband was now coming down with the same symptoms I had.  We planned a day trip to Billings for Saturday to pick up some much needed grocery items before my parents arrive next week (woo hoo!) which gave me the opportunity to pick him up some meds from the store in Billings as well. 

Saturday we got up, checked water around the ranch, fed the chickens & bum calf, and headed to Billings to pick up our items from Sams.  We made it a quick trip that day, but had time to stop at Famous Dave’s BBQ restaurant.  For it being BBQ in the North…it was pretty darn tasty.  No, it wasn't like the normal ‘Texas BBQ’ that I’m used to, but it was quite good.  It was a hell-of-a-lot better than the Mexican food these people try to sell up here.  It’s awful – and even the word awful is a compliment to it up here.  Anyhoo, after lunch we headed back to the ranch to do the chores for the evening before turning in. 

Sunday Wesley was feeling a bit better (after taking some medicine) so we decided we would paint our shed first thing that morning before the sun came out & heated up the day.  It took us about 4 hours to paint the entire thing, and we were SO relieved when we were finished.  By that time I was sick of painting & being covered in gray paint, and Wesley wasn't feeling so well again.  So he spent the afternoon on the couch while I started cleaning our house before our impending company arrives from the South.  I got about ¾ of the house cleaned, but did manage to clean their entire room & bathroom, and wash their bedding so it is nice & fresh for them.  I have a few miscellaneous things to do this weekend to round out my cleaning, and then Sunday we are having a yard day so the lawn is mowed & our patio is cleaned before they get here.  I hope Wesley starts feeling better soon.  He woke up not feeling that great this morning, but was doing a bit better by the time I talked to him at lunch.  I’m hoping he continues to feel better.  Moo Moo & David have been gone for the past week visiting Wesley’s sister in Oklahoma, so we are anxious for them to get back & share how their trip went with us. 

We have another roping this Saturday to attend, and I’m hoping between now & then to get some pictures up of Wesley from when he’s been roping in our summer roping series.  One can hope.  Our evenings are full with feeding the calf & chickens, walking the chickens (yes, I said walking the chickens…which is a whole other story in itself), checking water, tending to the horses, and feeding the dogs.  And then we come in & feed ourselves.  It’s a full time job, but we love every minute of it.  Our job never ends, and we don’t get sick days.  The ranch and animals depend on the 4 of us, especially when any of us is out of town, and we must keep going even when we don’t want to.  But to see your hard work & success blossom before your eyes in the form of animals growing & flourishing in the environment you create around them is something that no one can take away, and no one can understand unless you live & breathe it every day like we do.  Last night after getting home from work I had to help my sweet husband move our entire cow herd to another pasture as they rubbed down the gate to the pasture they were in.  We started about 5:45 in the evening with me dropping him off at the back end of the pasture, and then driving myself, the dogs, and my horse halfway up the pasture & gathering the front part of the herd while Wesley gathered the back end.  We got done about 7:15, stuffy noses and all.  But, the cows needed to be moved.  At the end of the night as we were riding back to the pickup & trailer together we both couldn't help but smile because we love our job and we love that we get to do it together.  Each time I’m out with Wesley I learn something new & I am so thankful that he is so patient with me & teaches me things about the ranch.  Even on the days where it seems like nothing is going right, the animals are being unruly, and one more fence needs fixing…we love our job.  Wait…was I just on my soap box?  I think I was…oh well, sue me.  My husband doesn't often get the recognition he deserves in his line of work & as his wife I love making sure everyone knows how hard he works, and how blessed we are to live the life we live!