Three days old

The two miracle babies are doing fine.  Of course I was worried until this morning.  They were either losing weight or staying the same weight and, even though I know that is normal for newborns, because they were sooooo small, I worried, big time.  Anyway, this morning they had both gained tenths of an ounce.  Cake is 2.5 oz and Squirt got back to her birth weight of 2.2 oz.  Thank heavens.  That being said, Kathleen and I are still staying up all night long hooking them on to the nipples, etc. It is paying off!!!!  Thank goodness.

The babies, when they were born, had ribs that were quite visible.  I knew they were doing better when the ribs started disappearing.  That happened before the weight went up, so I knew they were improving.  It is still worrisome watching these babies and it will carry on for a bit.  They aren't out of the woods yet, not by any means.  We'll be up many nights to come, but, of course, it is worth it.

I figure that these two babies, being held and handled as much as they are being held, etc., are going to be the sweetest things in the world.

Today we start the neurological stimulation exercises, days 3 to 16.  This includes the smell stimulation.  Watch out!  Smart puppies being raised!

For now, the blog will continue some other day, from the hopeful curmudgeon

Zinger's new puppies

Well, Zinger did have puppies.  April 27th.  She was bred to Bravo, a beautifully made boy in Toledo, Ohio and the progesterone levels said that the babies would be due April 25th.  My reconing was April 26.  Those days came and went and I was worried.  I wasn't worried because she was "late," but because Zinger's girth kept getting smaller over the last one to two weeks.  I was afraid that she was resorbing puppies, some or all.  I took her in for an x-ray on the 26th and there were pictures of two or three puppies and a bunch of "stuff" that the vet could not identify.  Hmmmmmm.  Next morning, there was black, wet stuff on one of her bedding blankets.  Muconium, so, where was the puppy/!!!!  On the floor, a tiny, black thing.  Sad.  A mostly resorbed puppy.  Two more came out over the next hour and I decided to take her in to the vet as she was NOT having contractions that I could feel and I could not feel kicking babies.  Had only felt one baby kick one time during this entire pregnancy.  Not good.

The cesarian section showed lots of "stuff" in her uterus, BUT, two live babies, both girls.  They each weighed 2.2 ounces when we got them home, we being myself and Chris Harrington who had come out to see babies be born.  Instead she went through this ordeal with me and has steadfastly held on and is helping put and keep these babies on the nipples day and night.  They still haven't achieved a weight over their birth weight, but are maintaining.  Amazingly tiny baby girls, one has a white spot on her chest that looks like a crab, so she is Crabcakes, Cake for short and the other has a spouting whale as her white spot, so she is Squirt.  They are beautiful, but TINY and lots of work.

Kathleen and Kate arrived last night and will spend the weekend and help me keep them eating.  Chris must go home this morning.  We'll miss her, but she may come back to see babies be born when Pip has her litter, IF her breeding took.  One can never tell.

This disaster and miracle, that we even have two alive, means that many people on my list will either have to wait for a puppy from Pip or onward down the line, or find a puppy somewhere else and the ones to whom I have spoken so far are crushed, but understand.  Nature rules.

We will never know why this happened.  Nature doesn't always tell us those things.  Sad but true.

Hugs to all on the list, to Chris for all her help, to Kathleen and Kate for their help and to luck that we have two sweet, TINY girls so save.

More later,
The ever hopeful curmudgeon, Charlotte

Chaos

So, the house is a mess, boxes and clutter everywhere.  Leaving for Hawaii in September, after I get to see my friend from England.  Yes, the dogs will go with me.  Meanwhile, we will have puppies at the end of April.  Zinger's last litter.  Maybe we'll have a Pip litter too.  We'll see about that one.

Pip is doing well in NoseWork as are Zinger, Myshka, and Coug.  Pip is ready for NW3 (and I wish I were,) Zinger is ready for NW2, and Myshka and Coug are ready to be introduced to scent.  Myshka is going to be another crazy Pip, and Coug is going to be another careful, or more careful, Jeri.  Can't get enough, none of us.  We will practice with Sherilyn and Nancy this afternoon, even though we are supposed to get up to five inches of rain today!!!!!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Pip gets into one of two NW3 trials coming up.

I just got a new car for Hawaii, a white Prius, like millions of other Priuses out there.  I will enjoy the good gasoline mileage I'll get and I will like all the "apps" the car has, like telling me if there is a car in my blind spot, etc.  Don't want any accidents with my precious babies in the car!!!

So, no pictures today, unless you want old ones.  "Soon" I'll put up pictures of PUPPIES!!!

Don't get too wet and stay warmtoday!

Best,
The Curmudgeon

Excuses, excuses!!!!

Leaving a sixteen year practice is hard and time consuming.  These puppies have not gotten their share of pictures being taken.  Poor babies. 

They are beautiful and sweet and wild and playful and smart.  It is hard to walk through the kitchen where they grab the cuff of my pants and hold on for dear life!  Little rascals!  They LOVE the moving toys, sit in the bowl chair, glide on the skate board, run over the teeter totter, etc.  It is fun to watch them learn physics first hand.  It is truly amazing to watch.

My last day of work as a dermatologist will be Nov. 12th.  Then I will have more time to write on the blog and take more pictures and do lots more things!  Probably won't get to Hawaii permanently until spring.  I get to go for Thanksgiving though.  Yippee!!!

These pictures on the orange were taken yesterday.  I thought that is was pretty cute how they were napping on their mother.  She seemd to like it too.

These pictures were taken minutes ago.  They are stocking up on kibble so that they won't starve to death!  They always think that is their fate, as do all puppies!

We will know next week where they will be going.  Exciting!!!

Off to NoseWork for Jeri today.  Yesterday was Pip and Zinger's turn.

The crotchity curmudgeon signs off for today.  I hope that you enjoy the pictrures!

Good hearts

The babies are growing.  I took them to the vet's yesterday to make sure that the tiny one didn't have a heart murmur.  Yes, there was a reason.  She is gaining so slowly that I have been worried.    They all have good hearts.  Thank goodness!

But, where are the pictures, you ask?  I'll see if I can make this work to get the pictures on the blog.

I have been BUSY,  as busy as I've ever been, trying to get out of the office in time for the other guy to take over the pratice.  Very complicated and time consuming.  We are trying to do everything at once, it seems.  At least I can now sleep knowing that my patients will have someone to take care of them.

Kathleen and I are holding the big puppies away from the nipple that tiny girl, Dish, is using.  We also feed her peanut butter and a slurry of chicken, Esbilac, etc.  She is gaining at molasses speed.

earlier pictures

Still a little one down at thebottom on the left in the picture below..  Less than one quarter the size of the biggest one!  This picture taken today.

These are all I could get to stay on.  Crazy computers.  They hate me and I don't like them much better!

What a grand weekend!!!!

On Thursday or Friday, Joyce, with Gibbs, was driving to Salt Lake to try to get to Groups in time to see Gibbs in Group.  He had taken BOB, Best of Breed, beating the already champions, called taking BOB "over specials" and that would have him go into Group.  That day he did nothing in Group, but on Saturday he took a Group 4 which is pretty darn good for a yearling.  Again he had taken BOB over specials.

Saturday in Chehalis, WA, Bard, Gibbs' brother, took BOB and a Group 3.  Both of the not champion winners that day were also my breeding and so was the Select dog, Bryce.  On Sunday Bard took BOB and a Group 2, Bryce Select again and Renwick WD while Effie took Reserve.  Great day!

To top that, Zinger, starting just after noon, produced eight puppies, five of whom are girls.  A dream litter!!!

This is Renwick, in his free time, a furniture re-distributor.

I tried to upload pictures from the weekend, including puppy pictures, but they wouldn't take.  Maybe I can get them on the download page by tomorrow.  Gotta get back to work.  At least you have the good news!!!!

Jaba has a new name

Jaba went to a new home in Richland on Sunday.  His name is now Caber and he will be an agility dog.

Nosey is thinking about going to a home in Seattle and BB, Bard's boy, is going to a home in Victoria, if he passes his interview with two wonderful people who want a boy.  They weren't expecting a puppy this soon, but he is good enough to go to them and he is a boy.  I can hardly expect to get only girls in my next litter, but if I count on a boy, I won't get one!  Isn't that the way it always is?!!!!!

Jeri's two are growing fast, are cute and hopefully just what I want to take to Hawaii!  Fingers crossed.

Kathleen already took them home for the day, so no pictures at the moment.  Sorry.

Someone asked me for a puppy, but didn't leave his email address.  Call me at 360-477-1869, please.
Thanks,

Curmudgeonville