Day 60 - October 28, 2009 Happy BIRTHday!

Well, I was acting a little clingy this morning. My temp dropped a little. Mommy went to work. She was watching me on the HeidiCam at about 3:40p and noticed I was under the covers and moving a lot. (She moved the cam to look at her bed while she was at work - smart mommy). So, she called my human sister, Rebecca, who happened to be at my house. She came to check on me and told mommy that I was panting and whimpering. Mommy let everyone at Fruitful Vine know and headed right out the door. Meanwhile Rebecca kept trying to put me in my box. I wanted mommy!!! So, I climbed out three times. Finally, she put me in one more time and promised that mommy was on her way. So, knowing she wouldn't lie to me about something like that, I stayed.

She couldn't get home fast enough! I was waiting for her and wanting her by my side. I did the usual 'building my nest', panting, looking up at mommy and a tad of whimpering.

At 4:40p, the first of the litter arrives! A tiny chocolate brown girl. Funny because my last litter the first was a tiny chocolate brown boy! Anyway the little peanut weighed 3.75 ounces. Teeny!

At 4:50p, the second one arrived. Thankfully, he came very fast after the first one. He is so cute! Black with white paws and a white chest. He weighed 5 ounces.

I was busy eating placentas, trimming cords, cleaning and nursing puppies. And WAITING!

Mommy stayed right by my side, never leaving me! She was, however, chatting and adding folks to the HeidiCam. And talking her midwife business on the phone. A couple of times Aunt Hope called to check on me. I thought that was special because other than mommy she is the only other human who has been 'with' me for all my births!

The other dogs were so curious. Pete (from my first litter) was the most curious. He would not leave the room! He was smart and didn't bother me. He just didn't want to leave my room!

At about 6:45p, mommy started getting a little concerned. After the second one was born she saw that the next two were one each side of my abdomen so she figured it might take a little bit to get them into the pelvis but this was longer than she anticipated. She also noticed I had been intermittently pushing for about 20 minutes - not constant though - and no pup in sight. So, she called my Dr. (a human who helps animals, you call them vets).

Dr. G wasn't at the office and the doctor who was on call was getting ready to leave for the day. The lady on the phone said mommy should take me to the hospital because the doctor there was leaving for the day. No! Don't transport me!!! Mommy asked if she could just talk to him. She just wanted a little advice.

A very nice doctor (I can't remember his name but will find out later) came on the phone. Mommy told him who I was and that I was a patient of Dr. G's. Gave him a little history of me and Hank. She also mentioned that she was a human midwife ;-). He was amazing! Kind of like the Dr. van Scriver of the animal world! He told mommy not to worry since I had never had any problems before and was having pups with Hank again. Gave her some advice, even told her she could check me if she was really worried (glad she didn't have to do that). He was amazing - ah! I already said that!!! The phone call ended at 7:01p.

Mommy just looked at me after the phone call and told me she knew I could do this and that it was okay to push my puppy out. Found out later that a bunch of Facebook ladies were encouraging me too! It is nice to know that there are so many out there that Trust Whelping!

At 7:11p, I finally pushed out puppy number 3. There was a little bit of meconium (puppy poo) in the fluid which was the only thing different from any of my other births. It's another boy! He is a light brown and dark brown combo. I shall call him my trouble maker - hehe! He weighed 5.25 ounces.

At 7:47p, while nursing three puppies, I pushed out the final pup. A black female with a tiny white line on the top of her head. She weighed 5.75 ounces.

It took a while to get them clean and dry. Mommy helped by changing out the bedding. I immediately fell asleep while my puppies were nursing. Don't give me a hard time for co-sleeping please!

The first night was uneventful. I finally left the box at 4a. I climbed in bed with mommy and started licking her! Then I heard a puppy cry and ran back to the box. I repeated that at 4:30a.
And again at 6:30a. Didn't get to sleep with mommy but did get three short visits with her.

At 7a, daddy brought me a big meal. I ate it all while a couple of jealous dogs watched. Ha, I deserve breakfast in bed guys!

Pictures later tonight. Mommy doesn't want to disturb us too much yet.

Till next time,
Heidi