Quick Update: The Gang's All Here, and All is Well!

One shot at the vet's office did the trick.  And Elsie was just fine about it all (here she is at the vet's; the plastic box behind her with red plaid blanket on top is our holding/warming box for the pups):

Five minutes after our return home (with Elsie and pups from the vet's), Elsie whelped the lovely Miss Pink, a lovely black female of 13.5 ounces.

Twenty minutes after that, we welcomed another handsome black male who, wearing the yellow the collar, will be called Master Yellow. :)

So, not including our still born #5 (black male), here's the gang:

Miss Lime (yellow female)
Master Blue (black male)
Master Red (black male)
Master Green (black male)
Miss Pink (black female)
Master Yellow (black male)

That's five blacks and one yellow in the new family (four boys and two girls). :)

And here they are:

And all are doing just fine!  Here are just a couple favorite shots from this afternoon.

Like mother, like daughter (Miss Lime nuzzled with Momma Elsie)

Master Green and Miss Pink nap on Momma Elsie's snout.

Master Green (atop Miss Pink) with Yoda ears.

That's it for now. I'm off to get some sleep.  I'll see you all about midnight EDT (our 24/7 puppy watch has begun -- more on that later!).

Until then,
Joan

Update on Whelping Progress

It's been nearly 3 hrs since #5 (still born) was delivered. I've seen no contractions at all yet for the next. I do see/feel movement on Elsie's tummy on both sides, so that means at least two more pups in there.

As time passes, we're growing concerned about uterine inertia (common in older dams), a condition where (to put it most simply) the uterus just gets lazy or sluggish or stops contractions all together.  The dam will be quite content to nap or care for her pups, despite it's being obvious she has more pups to whelp. And nothing happens.

That's basically where we are right now (but it's only been 3 hours).  And remember, it's only been 18 hours since the start of her active Stage Two (it's taken her 24 hours to deliver her last litters). We're okay, I think. Just concerned.

So after more chats with the vet's office, here's what we've decided. If we don't see another pup in the next 90 minutes, we'll haul the whole crew to the hospital (Elsie and pups), where Elsie will be examined to ensure all is well internally, and then (if necessary) she'll be given Oxytocin to stimulate contractions.  If Oxytocin doesn't produce the pups, then we may have to consider an emergency C-section (we're not there yet though).

The encouraging thing is that since I sat down to write this, Elsie started panting (the first panting I've seen since her last whelp). Maybe things are starting up again, and she just needed to rest up after the last difficult labor.

And in the last two seconds, she started nesting!  Yay!!! :) 

Here's hoping we see the remaining pups delivered safely and singing with grand health by the end of the afternoon.

Stay tuned.

Joan

Elsie Mothering Her First Four Pups!

Most folks realize (or have heard) that puppies are born with their eyes shut and ears sealed (we'll talk about this another time). We know they're helpless and dependent on their dams for everything.

What many may not know is that pups are also unable to pee or poo on their own, so they rely on their dams for pottying too.

How? Well, the dam (in this case, Elsie), licks their bottoms and urinary mechanisms to stimulate the poo and pee response. She licks; they poo/pee, she ingests it. This is also how she keeps her den clean as long as the pups are nursing.

Elsie happens to be quite fastidious, so we don't do much clean-up for the pups for the first couple of weeks. You can see again, though, that fastidiousness does not equal gentleness:




Better Elsie than me is all I can say! What a devoted mom! :)

'til next time,
Joan

Sad News :(

Well, Elsie finally started contractions again, and after more work getting a pup out than we've seen so far, she delivered another handsome black male who weighed exactly the same as his brothers (15 ounces).

This little one, however, arrived breech after a long stressful set of hard contractions, and was lifeless, floppy-headed, and gray-tongued on arrival. We worked on him for 15 minutes doing all we could (in some cases, the same measures that saved our Miss Lime), but he never responded. Sadly, Elsie's #5 pup was stillborn, and we were unable to revive him.

I'm okay. I actually suspected this might be the case when Elsie's intermission went so long.  Interestingly, this is the same scenario as what happened with Elsie's one stillborn pup in her 2008 litter (#5, a big boy, taking a long, long time for delivery to kick in).  In both cases, we did all we could; it just wasn't meant to be.

For all we know, there may have been something internally amiss that we just can't see.  Externally, he was a handsome little one, looking just like his brothers.

Elsie is fine too (she's not looking for him the way she looked for her other stillborn pup a few years ago). She must just "know."

The good news is this: I still feel viable puppies kicking and active in Elsie's tummy, so we're hoping for more live, uneventful births.

Hopefully, my next news will be happier.  Though this news is sad news, it is news that is quite common in larger puppy litters; we're usually just insulated from it. Sharing sad news is the risk we take sharing good news with you all. It's the way of things.

Some tough lessons in life and death (and our inability to give life) today. But we rest in knowing that God knows every sparrow that falls and that he certainly knows our #5 pup. We trust, too, that God's purpose for this little one was somehow accomplished while he was still in Elsie's womb. And now we imagine that pup romping with Elsie's other pup on the other side of the rainbow bridge.

Losing #5 doesn't, however, dampen our joy over the first four litter mates. We celebrate the living healthy pups we have and treasure all the more that we were able to bring Miss Lime around so well. 

Elsie is nursing her pups and sleeping now (after a very tough delivery with #5). But we expect to see more pups in the next couple of hours.

And it will soon be time to check in with our vet.

Stay tuned.

Joan

Intermission

The gang so far: Miss Lime (yellow female), Master Blue, Master Red and Master Green (all black males)

It's 5:15 a.m. EDT (March 31st), Elsie is snoring, and four precious puppies are singing contentedly as they nurse and nuzzle their sleeping mom.  Elsie's been in labor, on and off, now for 24 hours. Not to worry; she's just fine.

I can feel other puppies in Elsie's belly (kicking and active), so this is just the intermission. Second half still to come. Elsie is, of course, splitting her litter over two dates (she's done this every time). So, our March 30th pups have arrived; the March 31st pups have yet to introduce themselves. :)

Lest you worry, the rest of our canine crew is  just fine. Pinot (one of Elsie's pups from  her 2007 litter) and Tuc (the sire for this current litter) have to check things out every time they have the chance (Kenya, Ridge, and Chessie seem oblivious):

Thankfully, I got a chance to nap during this early morning lull. DSD Sarah suggested I lie down for a bit since she was here for the overnight (DH had gone up to bed).  I said something about, eh... maybe just ten minutes, and promptly fell asleep with my gloves on (and slept 2 hours).  Sarah and DFS Daniel couldn't resist grabbing a pic of my lovely sleeping attire, gloves included:

We're not done yet, though.

With more pups to come, Elsie still needs her humans to reassure her:

DSD Sarah providing support  for Elsie while I nap (yes, only four pups delivered so far, and look at that belly!)

And that's where we stand for now! 

More to come, so stay tuned.

Until then,
Joan

Master Red Joins Master Blue and Miss Lime!

Four pups so far!!

Here, Master Red (3rd born, a boy, black, weighing 15 ounces) joins his littermates while Elsie gets ready to whelp Master Green (the 4th born, another black male, also weighing 15 ounces).

Most of the video captures their movement and "song" but toward the end, the "mute" button on the TV gets undone (you'll hear it; just don't want you startled!).

Why We Remove the Pups When Elsie is Working on the Next Whelp

The video speaks for itself. :)

Master Blue Moments After Birth

It's a Boy! Introducing Master Blue

GROSS FACTOR WARNING: This is Master Blue being whelped (coming out of Elsie). It's not too bad, but some people might not like the gross factor.

Master Blue is the 2nd born, a black-coated boy (like his daddy, Tuc), and quite a big boy by comparison to Miss Lime. Yet, he only weighed in at 15 ounces. :)

Here's his delivery video (that's the only delivery video of the batch -- too crazy to record and do everything else that needs to be done). :)

Enjoy!

A Couple More Videos of Elsie with Lime (while we're in a lull)

Here's one-hour-old Miss Lime during a brief lull in the action.

Elsie with her First Born (short video)

Note, Mommy canines are not the epitome of gentleness about grooming their newborns. :)




Elsie is incredibly possessive and protective of this little one. In past litters, when her contractions have started again for the next whelp, we've been able to put the delivered pups in a warming/holding box right next to the helping box to protect them from her delivery movements.

Not this time, apparently. When we try to move the pup, Elsie takes the pup (by head or rear) to carry it back next to her.

We'll see what happens after the next arrives (Miss Lime's placenta finally just delivered, so Elsie is contracting again).

More to come!

Introducing the Operatic Miss Lime!

Weighing in at a whopping 13.5 ounces, with a light yellow coat (stained green right now -- a little challenging for her entering the world, but doing fine now), is Elsie's first born:  Miss Lime, a girl! :)

Here she is singing in the box while Elsie was having addition contractions:

Lest You Worry: Elsie Day 63 Lollygagging Pics

Just a few photos so you can see Elsie is doing just fine in her Day 63 Limbo:

Pottying every ten minutes round the clock (okay, so slightly exaggerated for effect).

Elsie snoozing and snoring and dreaming (but not working on puppy bearing!).

Elsie watching the world go by.

Elsie getting ready to paw Momma Joan.

Elsie hiding  under the kitchen table at my feet while I work at the computer. She just got done nesting in both the puppy-holding/warming box and on the floor where she's sitting.  This is a pause in her digging efforts.  What, me? Dig?

So we're in watch-and-wait mode (as are all of you with us), still hoping things progress as they should.

And as soon as I have a puppy picture to post, I'll post it (as long as I'm not helping her with the next one right after the first!). :)

We're hanging in there.

Stay tuned.

Day 63: Contractions, But She's Takin' Her Sweet Time

Maybe it's that she's older.

Maybe I don't remember her last labors well (it's been nearly 3 years).

Maybe it's that I'm older and have had so little sleep since Friday.

And maybe it's that I know too well what can go wrong.

I don't know what it is, but Elsie's futzing around in Stage One for five days and now taking a half-a-day (or more) to get into a good solid rhythm of contractions from her first contractions early this morning (to move into hard contractions at all) is just about killing me.

Okay, so "killing me" might be hyperbole, but you get it.

I want these puppies out safely, and I want them out now.

End of rant.

Dear Sweet Elsie Girl (DSEG) is taking a beauty nap as I write this.  She's panting slightly, but otherwise unperturbed. We haven't seen any more discharge nor any more contractions since mid-morning. 

And she's fine.

If she were straining and not producing, we'd be worried. If we'd seen the big gush of her waters breaking and still didn't see more active contractions, we'd be worried. If we saw "red flag" colors in the little discharge she's produced, we'd be worried.  If the puppies had stopped kicking, we'd be worried.

But none of these has happened.

Elsie hit the pause button again. She's morphed into a dam I've never helped birth puppies before (this whelping process is night-and-day different from her last two whelpings).

Thankfully our vet has tons of experience with this other kind of dam, so he's not worrying yet (he trusts us, too, though I have no idea why).

And between the vet's and Elsie's complete calm about all this, I'm going to stay calm. And patient (I think I can;  I think I can; I think I can...).

At least I'm telling myself that.

So here we are again, waiting for events beyond our control. 

And here I am again, waiting and wondering and wishing I could do something to make things happen and to ensure things turn out okay (but I can't).

Sounds a lot like life. 

Oh, yeah, it is life.

Guess I forgot.  Must be my lack of sleep.

Stay tuned.

Joan

Moving into Day 63: Still Watching

First things first: Elsie is still fine. Puppies are still kicking.

Elsie is still in active, continues Stage One, and has been since 11:30 p.m. last night (she's been doing intermittent Stage One since Saturday afternoon - start/stop/start/stop). We're at 22 hours of continues Stage One for her at the time of this writing.

Though taking that long in Stage One is unusual for Elsie, it's not unusual for other dams. Apparently Stage One, though it's not been our experience, can go continuously for 36 hours (let's hope not - egad!). The fact that it's been continuous bodes well for Stage Two to develop soon.

Lest you worry; Elsie has not had any hard contractions nor any hard labor at all, nor has her water broken, all of which bode well for Elsie still having an uneventful whelping. It's all good.

Here's why we're not panicking yet:

1. Tonight is the end of Day 62 from Elsie's first tie with Tuc. Normally you count days from the first tie so you have an idea of when the earliest date for whelping might be. It is possible, however, that no conceptions occurred from the first tie, and that all of the puppies she's carrying were produced from her second tie (she mated twice, two days apart, as is the norm). If that's the case, we'd only be at Day 60 from that date of conception, not 62, so we're in good shape on gestational day count (normal gestation is 63 days, though again that's not been the case with Elsie in the past).

2. Elsie's water has not broken, nor has she had any discharge (meaning no sign of puppy distress).

3. Elsie has not attempted to push at all (no contractions like that yet). If she were having contractions and pushing, then we'd be really worried. As it is now, it just appears that she's taking longer to get to Stage Two, which happens with some dams (just hasn't with Elsie before).

4. Elsie's vitals are all strong and healthy. She looks good; she's happy; she's alert, her eyes are bright, her gums are pink, etc. She seems undisturbed. We're trying to take our cues from her.

5. Neither Elsie, nor the puppies, show any sign of distress (just the normal Stage One discomfort for Elsie, and the normal pre-whelping slow down in activity of the pups).

6. Elsie is drinking and pottying just fine (though she hasn't eaten in 36 hours -- normal during Stage One and Stage Two.


To keep my sanity, however, we're talking with our vet a couple times a day, and we're watching Elsie's vitals closely. We know who to call overnight if anything comes up, and we'll check in with the vet again first thing in the morning (I just got off the phone with our doc now).

So, that's where we stand. Amazing, isn't it, how every labor/delivery is different even within the same species (not just same species, but same mom!)?

This kind of process is as new for us as I suspect it is for you, so I guess we can learn together. I'm just thankful this isn't our first time at bat; I'd be crazy with worry if it were (I'm having a difficult enough time keeping worry at bay even with our experience and Elsie's proven track record!).

So there it is.

And for you who follow on FB, I promise I'll swap my profile picture as soon as we have puppy launch!

Try not to worry, and get some sleep. You may as well, since it will be another sleepless night on this homefront!

Stay tuned,
Joan

Day 62: Progress (We Hope)

So Elsie has been in active, pretty much non-stop, Stage One again since about 11:30 p.m. last night (that's 11 hours now).  This is the first time she's gone this long without everything coming to a halt since Saturday (3 days ago), so we're hoping this means we're really moving toward Stage Two soon.

Just for you want-to-know folks, here's what some of Stage One looks like (minus the walking around, pacing, and general restlessness she's been doing for the last three days). 

It includes a lot of panting:



And nesting (digging a den -- an instinctive action):




At least now, Elsie is camping in the whelping box (a good sign of progress), and not digging through our hand-knotted-wool oriental rug or the sofa cushions in the family room. :)

The little sneak really wanted to hide under the deck steps, though, at 4 a.m. this morning (had all I could do to get her to come back inside).

And so we watch the panting and the digging, and we wait.

We'll let you know when she moves into Stage Two for real. Should be this afternoon (at the latest, we hope).

Until then,
Joan

Still Waiting; Not Worried (yet)!

Just so you don't worry, here are a few shots of Elsie taken in the last hour.

Today is day 61 of gestation. Though her temperture is down (98.2), she didn't eat dinner (but she ate breakfast), she's nesting, and her belly is making all kinds of noises, she doesn't seem to be in any hurry. And she's showing no signs of discharge or contractions. She, in fact, seems just fine, albeit a little uncomfortable with that belly of hers:

We're trying to take our cues from her, and she is not showing any signs of distress. The puppies are still moving and active. So we're assuming all is well, just different this time. But because this is not the typical presentation of an Elsie whelping experience, I felt more comfortable calling our veterinarian.

I just got off the phone, and Elsie's doc is not concerned. Not yet, anyway. We're just going to watch her closely overnight (do what we've been doing) and hope things progress as they should by morning.

Okay, puppies, you can come out now!

Until then,
Joan

Puppy Movement in Utero

If you're interested, this short video clip captures some of that the pups' movements look like on Elsie's belly. Some are difficult to catch, but some are very clear.

The movement begins with a couple bumps just above and to the right of center. Then drops to center and low center and low center-left.  Have fun! :)

Day 61 and Holding

So we're still in holding pattern. 

What, on Saturday (Day 59), looked exactly like Stage One labor for Elsie's first two litters (and Kenya's, too, for that matter) stopped Sunday afternoon (yesterday).  Remember, Elsie previously delivered her pups on Days 58 and 59. I was sure we were going to see puppies (her temperature has stayed down, too).  Today is Day 61.

The Elsie girl is just hanging out, sleeping comfortably in the sun.

When she's up and around, you can see she's carrying much lower now (you can almost see rib definition again):

Her bulge has moved from high on both sides to low around her belly, and farther back toward her hips.

And though she was making like she was moving into Stage Two in the middle of the night again last night (panting, more frantically nesting, pacing, wanting to go out every few minutes, wanting lots of reassurance, etc...) all that has stopped again.  Thankfully we have not yet seen any hard contractions (that's a good thing; she's not pushing yet). I'd be worried if she were pushing and not progressing (that's a different story all together).

She's in no hurry, though. Nor are the puppies. They have a timing all their own. I'm the only one who wonders (and sometimes worries, but not often, at least not yet):

Pinot, on the other hand, is dying to know where those puppies are. Oh, she knows what's coming; I'm sure of that (she's so excited). Remember, she was born in the very same place:

 

But like the rest of us, she's just going to have to wait.

Stay tuned.  It's got to be sometime soon.

And I'll update you when the blessed even begins! :)

Until then,
Joan

No Pups Yet, But All is Well

Just a quick update:  Elsie is fine. She's just taking her sweet time hanging out in Stage One of her labor.

She was up most of the night nesting (digging in the carpet by the sofa) and wanting to go out. The pups have dropped, they're very low in her belly, and I can feel them very close to, if not entering, the birth canal. They're also quite active, kicking and wiggling up a storm. So all is well still.

Stage One can last 24 hours, and often does. It just hasn't typically for Elsie that I recall.  And I guess I didn't expect it to since this is her third litter.

We've decided that she "knows" it's her last litter, so she's milking the experience for all it's worth. :)  She must get quite a kick out of me waltzing around the back yard in the middle of the night wrapped in a blanket following her with a flashlight in twenty-degree weather (lol... her revenge maybe!).

Oh, and Pinot "knows" what's happening, too.  She keeps climbing up on the couch and looking over the brick wall to see if the puppies are in the whelping box. She keeps looking for them there. She should know; she was born in the same place 3.5 years ago. :)

So no worries here.  Stay tuned.

I'll put pics up shortly after the first arrives! :)

Until then,
Joan

And So It Begins

Elsie refused dinner (*gasp* -- she never refuses food), has vomited, is asking to going out every 5-10 minutes, has had some hard panting episodes, and is quite restless/uncomfortable.  I think we're looking at birthing puppies tonight (this evening and overnight). :)  :)

Here's Elsie about an hour ago letting her belly flop off the sofa (more comfortable for her this way).  And, of course, she needs her humans close by (notice DH Don on right). :)  

We'll post pics here and updates as the whelping process allows (between pup deliveries).

And for you who know us on Facebook, we'll change our profile pic to a newborn puppy once the puppies start arriving! :)

Stay tuned (we're in for a long night). :)

J.

Note from Elsie While She Waits: Day 59

If these pups don't show themselves soon...

I'm going lose my bloomin' mind!

 

(Both pics taken last night). Hehehe. We're still waiting (but Elsie's temp is staying down now).  We'll let you know when she starts active labor!

Until then,

Joan

Elsie, the Bubble-Bellied Hippo

LOL... okay, so that's not very nice.  But we have to laugh.  The poor girl is just getting so big and looks so uncomfortable. 

But she's as sweet and as uncomplaining as ever.

Here she is in all her Day 58 glory (she whelped Day 58 with her first litter and Day 59 with her second -- this is her third and final litter):

Me thinketh she has-eth more-eth than five-eth puppies in there-eth!

We'll know soon enough. 

Still waiting,

Joan

Waiting

The whelping box is set up now (click here for an informational post about the whys of our whelping box).  It's loaded with towels so Elsie can "nest" to her heart's content (she digs, as if building a den for her pups, and towels are much easeir to replace than carpet!).  We'll swap the towels for inkless packing paper for whelping, then we will use washable mattress pads to line the box for the first couple of weeks. For now, though, it's towels.

My kitchen has been offically commandeered by various whelping supplies (click here for a description of most of what we use, though some of this has changed since I originally posted in 2007).  I won't get my kitchen back until the pups are placed in their forever homes around Memorial Day weekend (the end of May).  The kitchen becomes puppy-rearing land as part of the pups' socialization process.

Truth be told, I wouldn't have it any other way (who needs a kitchen??).

And Elsie grows more uncomfortable, by the day.  Bless her heart.
















So we wait.

How will we know when she's getting close to labor and delivery?

• She'll start nesting (check -- already happening).
• Her belly load will seem to drop, or get lower (check -- she's there).
• Her milk will "come in" (check -- the jugs are flowing!).
• Her temperature will start to drop (check -- this has started).
• Her temperature will drop below 99.0 (normal for canines is 101.7). The lowest temp we've seen in the past couple days has been 99.4. Once she drops below 99.0, she should go into labor within 24 hours.
• She'll stop eating (nope... she's still ravenous).

Then, when she enters Stage One Labor (or "pre-labor" as it's also known), she'll start non-stop panting, she will keep asking to go outside (the urge to push feels like the need to go to the bathroom), and she'll become very restless. After all this happens we'll know she's moving into Stage Two (active) labor when the pups will start arriving any time (and we'll be able to see contractions).

I will say, it can be difficult to wait.  Especially when the waiting includes knowing things are going to get a whole lot crazier (or more painful or worse or exhausting) before what we're waiting for arrives.

I'm learning, though, that that's just part of the bigger picture. The waiting, and what comes between waiting and arrival, makes the actual arrival a greater joy, a bigger celebration, a more welcome relief.

This waiting, and the pain of labor and delivery, is all part of the greater work of producing new life and new joy for puppies and families yet unknown.

It's a good thing.

I know that, of course. And that makes the waiting and wondering and struggle to get there okay.

But someone forgot to tell Elsie.

Stay tuned!

'til next time,
 Joan

So, We're in the Puppy Saddle Again. :)

Yes, indeedie!

Grand Dam Elsie is expecting and due in about ten days (give or take a couple of days either way). Our bouncy buddy Tuc is the sire (his first time as Master Studly). We expect the litter to have yellow or black coats only this time, and what gorgeous puppies these will be!

Ohboyohboyohboy!

After Kenya's false pregnancy in December, I hesitated to write about Elsie's planned litter for this spring until we were absolutely certain, and last night's trip to the vet confirmed what we suspected: there's nothing false about this pregnancy.

Upon reading Elsie's pregnancy confirmation/puppy count x-ray last night, our beloved vet said he sees five puppies in utero. I see seven. Just so you know, the last time Dr. Wagner saw five, Elsie delivered nine. Apprently puppy counting in utero is not an exact science.  Take a look for yourselves:

If you look at the very center of the picture, you'll see something that looks like a tiny curved ladder (rungs are lighter/brighter white). That's a puppy spine.

If you look toward the right of center and down a little bit, you'll see something that looks almost like the edges of a soap bubble (can see the left side of the bubble more clearly). That's a puppy skull.

If you'd like to try counting puppies for yourself, you can click on the picture to enlarge it. Then count spines (they're easier to see).

As I look at it and futz with the contrasts in the image, I'm absolutely sure I see six, and possibly a seventh. Puppies are quite adept at hiding, so there well could be more. (We have a running joke with Dr. Wagner about puppy counts, hehe). :o )

So there it is: five, six, seven, eight... who knows?  Only time will tell.

Elsie is doing quite well; vigorous, healthy, happy and growing more hippo-like daily (bless her heart):

We're back to call her "jugs" and "wide load" and "Mama Elsie" -- all terms of the fondest affection and endearment. She's our Elsie Girl.

But she's also an experienced dam, so we thankfully don't expect any complications. And, since she's 6.5 yo now, this will be her last litter. As far as we're concerned, three litters in five years is plenty. We'll have her spayed this summer at which time she'll join Ridge in retirement.

Ai yi yi.  Puppies.  Oh boy!  Ack!

My guess is that Elsie will whelp next weekend; we'll start taking her temperature mid-week to look for the stage-one-labor temperature drop. She's at Day 51 today (of gestation). She whelped at Day 58 with her first litter and Day 59 with her second.  I doubt she'll go longer than that this time. Canine gestation is supposed to be 63 days, but the longest we've seen is 60 days and that was with Kenya.

Admittedly, I hope Elsie goes closer to her norm (Day 58 or 59); she's quite big already and getting more uncomfortable. But no matter how much she pleads with her eyes (photo taken this morning)...

the only way out for her is through. Poor girl.

In the meantime, we're preparing. DH is re-assembling the whelping box this weekend, and I'll be washing and sterilizing and setting up over the next two days just to be sure.  Then, before we know it, the little ones will be here, complete with puppy grunts, puppy nuzzles, puppy breath, and puppy songs! :)

And you, of course, know what that means: I'll be here documenting it all.

Stay tuned.  It's almost puppy time! :)

'Til next time,
Joan