Our kids came up for the weekend and we were all taking 4 hour shifts watching for our much anticipated new bundle of joy while also keeping his mama company.  My shift was to begin at 4:00 a.m. but, my son Joshua, tapped me on the shoulder at 3:00 a.m. and told me that mama “Blue” had begun to sweat profusely and he felt the time was near.  

We were all ready when the little guy decided to come out and face the world at 3:45 Sunday morning, May 18, 2008.  Our son Joshua, the family shutterbug, was armed with both the video and still cameras.  Over the past few weeks, Josh’s wife, DeAnna had spent hours rubbing mama Blue’s belly, trying to make her more comfortable, as she was incredibly large with foal.  We are pretty sure she willed the foal to finally come, after 362 days of gestation!  DeAnna had bonded with Blue so she was on point with mama, cheering her on and keeping her face and neck wiped with a cool cloth, as she labored.    I watched intently for the signs of a normal birth, my cell phone close by with our veterinarian, Dr. Hank Lee on speed dial.  I had talked to Hank the day before about the impending birth and promised that I would try to let him sleep through the night before calling him.  When I saw those striped front hooves with angel kisses at the hairline and a nose and chin (distinctly marked with the birthmark Papa Apache puts on his babies), I was so excited because I knew we were going to get a “Spotted” baby and he was coming into the world, in the usual way!  Bob showed up just in time to begin the Imprinting process of the new foal.  A sleepy-eyed Neil kept me on track with various medications that were to be administered to mother & foal after birth.  The constant question from the growing crowd was; “Is it a boy or a girl?” Everyone quietly exclaimed how beautiful the colt was and how long his legs were, mindful to not intrude into nature’s peaceful moments of new life!  We all held our breath each time the little foal attempted to get to his feet with those extremely long legs and fell forward on his nose.  Sweet knickers and a nudge from his mama gave him the courage to try again.