You are going to love this. 
The photos are terrible. 
They were taken last night and Mama will not tolerate the flash.
These snapshots, taken within the hour of their birth, under the barn light, show you really little. 
Except that there are four little lambs in fleecy coats milling about. That they had all had a drink from Mum.
But best of all it shows you that they are all alive and active.
The first lamb was born bottom first and was stuck, so he needed some help but after that they all came out smoothly and the right way around. I had been with Mama almost all yesterday working in and around the barn and waiting – every time I was out of her sight she would cry, she is a funny old thing.
Good morning. I shall take the cute lamb shots today. You would not believe the weather. It plummeted in the night. We have had a mixture of icy rain (that is freezing all the doors shut again as we speak) , blowing snow (that blew right past) and gale force arctic winds. Really awful winds. The barn is noisy with banging doors and rattling panes.
Four times in the night I fought my way out to the barn to get the lambs up for a drink from their Mum. I was afraid of them just going to sleep forever in this cold. The ice would blow in my face and the wind would whip into my eyes but right in the center of the barn was this little oasis of mother and crying babies. A pool of warm light in a pen totally blocked all the way around to prevent drafts. As I approached I could see Mama moving about her charges like an old experienced well rounded night nurse. It is 16F (-8C) now and still going down.
I hung a heatlamp, which makes me very nervous, but if these wee fellas (they are all male) get cold I will never get them warm again in these temperatures. You will remember that Mama has a wonky udder with a teat that has never been good, she does not have enough milk for four, so I know I will have to take over the feeding of two lambs. These two will gradually be fully adopted and swap over to Daisy milk while remaining with their little family – Mama and I will share their feeding as long as we can. This is how we always do it.
This is the third time Mama has given birth to quads, but previously one has always died at birth, so getting all four through is very satisfying.
It is 5.30am, time to feed out and milk Daisy. I am tired. My hands are aching with tiredness. But isn’t this good news. All four are on their way.
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
95 responses to “Mama has a surprise for you: FOUR LIVE LAMBS!”
They look so cute in their little coats, what nasty weather to lamb in!
Oh but they are precious! Congratulations to you AND Mama…for all the hard work involved in caring for these new lives. I love their little jackets. When you spoke of them yesterday I was most curious. I do hope for a little warmth to help ease your concerns. What fun photos are sure to follow! I’m grinning!
Go Mama!! Congratulations to you all – and how cute do they all look in their coats! 🙂
So Hairy didn’t miss a trick! The photos are great… like most newborn photos I’ve seen… not the best light, although you did very well in the circumstances, but wonderful and happy. I was expecting the lambies to be wearing black & white jerseys but the blue & red are nice, and look warm 😉 Take care all of you in the freezing cold.
What an excellent idea, All Blacks lamb coats!! I shall put my thinking cap on.. c
This is wonderful news! I think Mama knew she was going to need you. I remember how hard you worked with the last ones, trying to keep them alive. So glad all four made it.
Gah! So amazing and awesome! Welcome to the world, wee ones!
This is truly a blessed event Celi. Just reading your post had me shivering with cold. The little lambs look warm in their sweaters (clever Miss C.). Virginia
Wonderful. Smiles all round Celi!
So cute. And the lambs even came with coats – clever mum 🙂
laughter! 2 coats! c
How adorable! Despite the difficult photography conditions, you managed to capture the beauty and tenderness of the moment. I adore sheep and hope to have one or two some day on our little one acre spot on this good earth. Your photos made me long for sheep all the more. Thank you for sharing.
I do hope your dream comes true, sheep are so easy to have around.. c
Aw! How cute in their red and blue blanket jackets!
Congratulations! And what a challenge it must be to keep lambs alive in these freezing conditions. How wonderful to have four living little lambs, and may they all thrive.
What a lovely surprise to wake up to with my morning cuppa. Just too cute for words in their little coats. Congratulations to both mums Joy
Those photos did just fine to allow us to share the absolute magic of the occasion: and human babies do get a whole lot longer to ‘get going’, don’t they 😀 ! Hello Mom: way back you fed quite a few two-legged babes, now it seems the four-legged ones stand in the Q!!
Awesome! Congats on the new babies. Stay warm out there!!