October 14, 2008 - Week Eight - Bittersweet

Today my puppies are eight weeks old. They want to nurse anytime I am near but I'm not so keen on that much these days.

Mommy took Sadie to the vet today. She's not sick - she's ready for her new home. Mommy wanted to make sure she was good and healthy for her new family. So, Sadie weighed in at 2 pounds and is the picture of health.

So, I want to introduce you to Sadie's new family - The Harringtons! They are awesome! I know they will take good care of her. Here's a picture of them (except their dad).

October 13, 2008

I had always hoped that one of my children would have their father's perky ears. Last night, Pete made perky ears! They've stayed perky all day!!!

October 6, 2008

At first glance this might look like a basket of dog toys. In fact, it is. I couldn't find the pups the other day and alas they were sleeping in the toy box! Cuties!

October 3, 2008

I have been remiss in my duties as a mother but when you see some of these pics, you will understand. I have three toddlers who are a handful. It's hard to get a moment when I can just sit at the computer and blog, blog, blog. Pics will have to do.

So, we have pics of Rebecca holding each of the pups, me creatively nursing the pups and one of me picking on Pete. Enjoy!!!

Weights!

I almost forgot to post their latest weights!
Sadie - 1 pound 8 ounces
Pete - 1 pound 11 ounces
Beau - 1 pound 13 ounces

September 24, 2008 - 5 Weeks Old!

Yesterday marked the pups 5th week since their arrival. They are so playful these days. On Sunday September 21, we went to Ocala to visit the human great-grandparents. Also, there were my uncle Sam and aunt Callie. Sam is a lovely chihuahua and Callie is a dachshund. Oh yeah and my human Uncle Steve, Aunt Cathy and Cousin Stephen :-). We had fun.

Here are some new pictures. The puppies LOVE the other dogs, especially the pugs. The black pug, Cooper, is so funny. She loves those puppies and will risk me attacking her just to get to view them in the box. I sit back and watch with a growl on my lips. Chubs is pretty harmless. He's the fawn pug. He sniffs the puppies! Then there is a pic of the three amigos. They are getting quite the personalities.

Beau a.k.a. Big Spot was the first to escape the whelping box. It didn't last long - he whimpered until my mommy put him back with the group. Sadie loves to eat. Especially when mommy gives her a Nutri-Cal treat! It's a gooey, yummy treat for dogs. Oh and Pete. What can I say about Pete. He is spoiled rotten. The others will sleep and he cries for one of the humans to pick him up. They do and he stops crying. Thanks a lot, humans (Rebecca - you know who you are).

September 18, 2008

Thought you would enjoy a picture of the three pups. They were on mommy's bed playing with me and their father, Leo. Leo is still quite frightened by them. He won't admit it though - he is the alpha-macho male in the house - hehe.

From left to right: Sadie, Pete and Beau. We gave Big Spot a name today. He doesn't have a human owner yet but all the others had a name so...

September 16, 2008 - 4 Weeks Old

There are a few things I need to tell you today. First things first, my pups are 4 weeks old! I can hardly believe it's been that long ago that they were still in me.

Little Spot has a name - Pete, Petey, Pete-Pete - any variation thereof. There's a pic of me and Pete nose to nose - cute, huh? No name for Big Spot yet. He still needs a home.

We had a weigh in today. They are almost too big to put on the scale mommy bought. Yikes! Here are the weights: Big Spot - 1 pound 8 ounces, Pete - 1 pound 8 ounces and Sadie - 1 pound 5 ounces. I got a picture of her nursing so I could prove that she eats. She's just petite.

There is a picture of the three of them at the "dinner table". Then a great pic of me and Pete play fighting. They growl, they bark, they wag their tails and are getting their teeth. Great! Nursing should be 'fun' then.

Video!

Here are the pups playing! Not sure what all the dreadful noise in the background is, so, turn down your volume and enjoy the playful pups.

September 13, 2008

The pups and I went on a trip to PetSmart today. Mommy was nice enough to let me get a manicure/pedicure. They also cleaned my ears. What a delight! Little Spot stayed awake during our adventure while the other two slept quite soundly.

I weighed myself. Don't hate me ladies but just 25 days after delivery and I am back to my pre-pregnant weight! I certainly didn't diet. Just feeding those pups does it!

I have posted a couple of pics - one of Little Spot and one of Lighty who will from here on out be referred to by her new name - Sadie. Sadie met her new family yesterday. It was love at first sight.

September 11, 2008

Happy Three Weeks, Puppies! That's right - my pups are 3 weeks old as of Tuesday. We had the big weigh in last night. "Lighty", the girl, weighs 1 pound 3 ounces. Her brother, "Little Spot", weighs 1 pound 4 ounces and brother, "Big Spot" weighs 1 pound 5 ounces.

I've added some new pictures. These were taken last night. My mommy put the pups on her bed! I got all excited - the best of both worlds, puppies AND my mommy's bed. That was short lived, however, when she put them back in the box. Oh well, soon they will be mobile and watch out world ...

Top picture is "Big Spot" sleeping on my mommy's bed. Next is "Little Spot" and my human sister, Rebecca. Next is "Little Spot" and next is "Big Spot" and "Little Spot" playing. "Lighty" nursed and went right to sleep. Will try to get a good pic of her today.

September 5, 2008

It's been a while since I've written. Mostly because my mommy has to help me type and she has been unavailable for the last couple of days.

Well, here's a pic of Big Spot. He's a doll. Of course, you have probably noticed that his eyes are open! He tipped the scales at 1 pound today. Yikes, he's such a piggie when it comes to eating! Our girl and the other boy are a petite 14 oz.

Happy Birthday! One Week Old

I am so grateful that the first week has been uneventful. The only real problems I have run into are keeping the boys away from the pups. Oh and the pugs from my food! I am getting so good at being mean - grrrr. hehe

So, the big weigh in today:

The girl - weighed 4.75 oz one week ago - today she weighs 8.9 oz!

The boy with the most white - weighed 4.9 oz one week ago - today he weighs 9.5 oz!

The boy with the least white - weighed 4.75 oz one week ago - today he weighs 8.5 oz!

I've started working with the pups to get them well trained. The girl learned to high five. Here she is demonstrating her new talent:

August 25, 2008 - Weight Checks

Dear friends - these pups are growing so fast. Just a week ago I was trying on my Trust Whelping shirt with my belly dragging on the floor.



The kids weighed in at: #1 Girl - 8 1/2 oz., #2 Boy - 9 oz. and #3 Boy - 8 1/2 oz. This seems like a lot but actually they are right on the growth chart.

Thanks for stopping in. Pics tomorrow for their one week birthday!!!

August 23, 2008 - My Original Due Date

So, today was my due date but thankfully, I am delivered! Just 4 short days ago I gave birth to the most beautiful puppies. They were each about 4.75 oz at birth. Today, as you can see from the scale, they range from 6 7/8 oz to 7 1/2 oz! They are ginormous!

Mommy stopped by to see Dr. G today. I sent him a thank you card and a picture of me and the wee ones. He was so proud of me!

The pictures: the first is my girl - weighing in at 7 1/8 oz. Then my youngest son - weighing in at 6 7/8 oz. Almost 7 oz. and then the tubbiest of all is the middle child - weighing in at a whopping 7 1/2 oz! Then a pic of me and the girl.

August 21, 2008 - Mommy's Birthday

Today was a great day. It was mommy's birthday. Unfortunately, Fay came to town. For those who didn't know, Fay is a tropical something that makes a lot of wind and rain. Bummer.

Great news tonight: At the big weigh in each of the pups gained more than 1/2 oz!!! My milk is in and they are getting plenty. Like Cee said - no pumps or bottles for this mama! Of course, I am with them pretty much all the time but isn't that what mothers are supposed to do? Why, of course. They are only small for a short time.

Till the 'morrow - stay dry, my Florida friends!

The Video Clip as promised

It took mommy all day to get this to work. But I promised a clip of me 'covering' up my first born. She thought I was trying to bury the pup - I'm certain I was trying to keep her warm. Yeah, that's it - I was keeping her warm! This video was taken moments after her birth.

August 20, 2008 - Day 1 PP

So, I must say that day one went far better than I thought. They slept through the night waking only to nurse and well, go to the bathroom. I finally left the box at 9:00 AM. I just couldn't bring myself to leave those cuties!

The first thing I did after leaving the box was jump up in mommy's lap and thank her for helping me yesterday, I know, I know - I didn't really 'need' her help but let's say I thanked her for being there.

The second thing I did was eat! That's right I have quite the appetite now. I ate a large bowl of great food (dog food, of course). Then I voided. That's a polite way to say I peed. hehe

I have a couple of pics of the 'kids' getting weighed tonight. Oh, they are quite active and always getting behind me and such. The girl, in particular, likes to travel in the box. She probably thinks I am gonna try to bury her. (You may have to read the birth story to understand the burying thing. Video coming soon of me trying to keep my pup covered a.k.a. buried).

Oh and don't be jealous but I have my old figure back. Well, I am a little flabby and full in the front - if you know what I mean.

August 19, 2008 - Evening

It's 10:27 PM and I haven't left the whelping box. Mommy has been feeding me NutraCal - a high protein snack. I let Kristin Gartner know that the pups are nursing well.

This sweetie to the left is the first one and the only girl. Rebecca called it the other day when she predicted that I would have two boys and one girl. This little one weighed in at 4.75 oz. What a cute pink nose.

The first of the boys, this big guy below weighed in at 4.9 oz.

That's the second boy below. He's a good nurser and weighed in at 4.75 oz.

August 19, 2008 - Happy BIRTHday

It started this morning, I guess. Mommy took my temperature and it was down to 98.5. Normally it's 100.0. So, when the temp drops a degree - watch out, here come the babies. Well, I could have told mommy it would be today. I didn't eat all morning. Mommy had to leave for a couple of hours and when she came home I was so glad! She noticed that I was whimpering and digging through the covers on her bed.

So, she sat on the bed with me. I think she knew pretty much right away when I didn't try to get under her shirt. I just kept digging and digging to get those covers just right. She kept telling me what a good mommy I was. Meanwhile, every now and then I would get the covers just right and settle down. That lasted only a little while and I'd start digging around again. here is a pic of me after digging and somewhat settled down. This was taken at 12:54 pm.

Then, mommy put me in my whelping box. I was glad she finally did. I wasn't sure if I could move off that bed! She stayed right by my side the entire time. I have a devoted mother. This next picture was taken at 2:25 pm. By this time I had started having some spontaneous pushing, I was panting and every now and again I let out a cry.

By 2:29 pm. the first of the three started emerging from the birth canal. This was the easy part for me. Although it took me a while to get the hang of pushing. And then, at 2:34 our first pup was born! It's a girl and she is cream colored. Daddy says we should name her Fay. Me thinks not. Leo and I haven't even talked about names yet!

I heard mommy make a phone call to Dr. Cammi. Mommy was a bit worried because I didn't break the sac, eat the placenta and then was trying to bury my puppy. Well, I was just trying to get her out of the way! Puppy number two was on the way and I needed to get "Fay" covered up! Duh! Trust Whelping, trust it. Dr. Cammi wasn't worried at all. She encouraged mommy and soon we were back to birthin' pups.

So, number two finally decided to make his arrival at 3:21 pm. Just under an hour from his sister. That's right - it's a boy! He's a bit darker than the first one and has a cute white patch on the back of his neck. Leo is excited to have a son!

Speaking of Leo, I had no idea but when I went into labor mommy put a sign on my door that said "No Dogs Allowed". Well, after a while she decided to let Leo in with the promise that he remain quiet and not to snoop. This picture was taken while Leo was patiently waiting. It was taken at 3:49 pm.

It didn't take long for number three to makes its entrance. Thankfully! Mommy was IMing FIVE people who were watching the webcam, taking these fine pictures AND videotaping. Gee, she is such a first time grandmother. Watch out, all you human children of hers! That's right - when any of you decide to have babies - she'll be all about that!

Anyway, number three is another boy - he looks a lot like the other boy. I was very good with number two and three - chewed the sac, ate the placentas and didn't try to bury them anymore. I do believe I have a knack for this mother thing.

Weights aren't in yet but will update when we get that done. They are about four inches long from head to butt. Oh and sorry for anyone who goes past their due date - I was 4 days before my due date. They weren't born on Mommy's birthday (August 21) but they were born on my Uncle Richard's birthday. Happy Birthday Uncle Richard!

August 18, 2008 - Day 58

Well, today I am officially "in the window". That just means I can have the puppies any day and not be worried about their maturity. Also, today I am officially 'fat'. My belly is so big. Jeff called me 'saddlebags' today.

WARNING - BIRTH RANT - So, you'll see in today's pictures that there is a lot of talk about Trust Whelping - or as humans refer to it - birth. It's foreign to me that I have to 'trust' anything that my body will do on its on. Mommy says I need to wear the shirt and leave the sign posted in my whelping box She wants other to trust the process too.

She is a midwife. She trusts birth. She trusts whelping, too. She's always telling me what a good mommy I am going to be. Of course, she says she will help me if for any reason I need help. I have a new slogan - Trust Mommy!

August 17, 2008 - Day 57

Thought you'd like to know that even though I've gained almost 2 pounds in this pregnancy I am still quite nimble. That's right, I will do tricks for treats! Jeff (my human brother) gave me this treat after showing him I could still beg. That's Uncle Chubs next to me. He's okay - kind of looks like Marlon Brando (in his later years).

Pregnancy-wise I continue to grow! Those puppies move all the time. The latest past time at the Schmidt home is to watch my belly move. They are quite an active litter.

I was hiding in mommy's shirt earlier today when Leo and Hank decided to sit in mommy's lap. Well, they sat on me. Of course, I let out a growl to let them know I was under the shirt. You think they would know better! I am always under the shirt, boys. Gee.

Updated Pic of the Pups

My g-grandpop re-did the radiograph of the pups. Check it out!

August 16, 2008 - Day 56

Well, I had my appointment with Dr. G today. (His real name is Dr. Galipalli and he and his staff are awesome! ) It went pretty good. He took special pictures of my tummy today. Yeah, and dropped the bomb - I am having three little babies!!! Here's a pic of the babes. It's kind of hard to tell so my mommy marked where the heads are on this photo.

It's kind of hard to make out the picture but trust me - I knew there were more than two with all that movement in there!!!

After my appointment mommy took me to Chik-fil-A and got me a treat. Not a human treat - a dog treat. Here is a pic of me enjoying the treat.

So, stay tuned. Babies should be arriving in the next 7 to 10 days!

August 15, 2008 - Day 55

Well, we went to visit Dr. Cammi last night. The place was busy so we talked to her front desk lady - Sara. She's very nice. Unfortunately, the humans that were waiting in the front found out I was pregnant and started telling horror stories! Humans can be so stupid. They have shirts for humans that say 'Trust Birth". Mommy says I should wear one that says "Trust Welping".

Here I am weighing in at a lazy 7 pounds 10 ounces. I went to work with mommy today and all her patients were so nice to me. They knew that I understood the aches and pains of end of pregnancy!