Changes

2 updates today. Adele is wondering what the changes in this room mean. It is not set up yet but it is progress. Furniture is moved out. Linoleum laid down. xpen pieces downstairs waiting to be assembled. I figure it won't be complete till tomorrow. Simply way too much to do. 

I also have everyone washed except Kat. I do a marathon before so I am not scrambling with new pups. Kat gets washed tomorrow. Vets Tuesday. Probably pups by Friday. Oh boy....

Starting Taking Temps

Started taking temps after making room for a couch this morning. What does one have to do with the other? Only a process to get ready. Our goal is to get this room ready for whelping today or tomorrow. I need to clean my desk off so I can take a tropical in that will go on my desk. 

I am taking Adele's temps 2 ways. One is a non invasive infrared method and the other is rectal. I will take it both methods for 2 days to see if the differences in readings stay consistent. Then if it does I will opt for the non invasive kind. Adele will thank me. If readings are all over the place, I will have to stick with rectally and I wasted my $$ but it also takes a reading of the air temperature so that will be useful around the whelping box.

Here is the start:

09/27/2015 931am

Rectally 99.7

Infrared 100.4

That means .7 difference.

If this stays consistent instead of 98.1, 98.2 or 98.3 that I look for in a drop rectally, I will be looking for 98.8, 99.0, 99.1. I think to feel secure, if this is the method I use when I see a drop I will use the rectal way then. We shall see. It's new to me so I am hoping it works. 

A temperature of 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 to 39.2 degrees Celsius) is typical for a dog. In the last trimester of pregnancy the pregnant gal will have a temperature around 100. This is contributed to hormone levels. The morning is usually lower that the afternoon. 

You also look for other signs such as digging, nesting, pupils dilated. They also can be agitated and panting. Some of these signs can happen more than 24 hours. I have been known to stay up with a gal the entire day before then have pups. then the night before Nathan goes to the guestroomn with dogs and I am sleeping with a light on constantly checking. I have had silent births and had a puppy halfway out but we always manage to get downstairs to the whelping box. Maybe this year I will just sleep on the couch. 

Tomorrow

We are going to try to get the room together for the moms tomorrow but we have company in the afternoon. After that I need to make room in the front room for a couch. One couch departs. One huge plant comes in and the puppy room begins again. The plant has to come in as it goes behind my desk. You don't want to have to move everything after pups come and get the area drafty. We leave 1 couch in to relax on and watch the pups from. We lay down linoleum and we set up xpens with whelping boxes etc. On Monday my chore is to get all the supplies ready. We did get 2 raised dishes for the moms from Pet Expo. They are using them already. 

Today I bought an infrared thermometer that will be less invasive than a rectal but for the next two days (starting tomorrow) I will use both to see if the differences are consistent. If it works, the moms will like me more.

We start taking temperatures about 5 days before the first due date. You have to take it 3 times a day to catch the drop. When it drops down to the very low 98s then it is usually within 12 to 24 hours till pups arrive. It really works but you must take it several times a day otherwise you can miss the drop.

Xrays occur on Tuesday and I am hoping to be ready before the appointment. I am hoping for a down day on October 1st with no grooming. I need 1 day of nothing big on my plate, perhaps good food etc. Watch she will go into labour that day. You watch....

We could be 6 days away or a little over a week. Imagine that!

Oh and I need to find photos to cover white spots that Nathan fixed holes or stains on. He had a plan to paint. It won't happen till spring so if you see photos in funny spots, you know why. We are out of time to paint and that to do list - well lots will be scratched off but some will wait till next year. <sigh> The items that Nathan has on his plate - well some will have to wait like painting. 

I still have to get to the baby consignment shops for comforters. I also need to find lights for plants that are coming in. I need more as last year the plants were not so happy. Gad I need a greenhouse. Nathan said why don't you just let them die. I said oh and buy new next year. He said no - not buy at all. Oh but I love my tropicals. So, they are coming back in. 

Can you believe it - puppies soon. 

It's Not Pretty

This is early morning (today) before my grooming. What a mess I am. That's okay I am getting conditioned to pups making me look a mess. I like to be very close to the humans now. I know something is going on. If I have my druthers it is Momma I like to be close to except in the tv room where Daddy is my choice some of the time. 

I really have a lot of movement going on. It can be 10 days away or a bit more. Wow how did that happen. Nothing is set up but Sunday may be the day to do that. Saturday after Woofstock we have to take in the tropicals or we can't set up this room as one huge pot goes in front of my desk at the window. So it begins, the count down to pups.

Regal Adele: The Queen

Click on Photo for a Larger View

The puppies sure are kicking. Oh my. I think they are taking dancing classes. We have 2 raised dishes now so we can eat and the pups can't get to our dishes. We are hoping it works. All these things to get ready for pups. 

The humans got us treats too. Yum!

Getting Cooler & Puppy Kicks

I didn't swim today. I was one of those that ran around the pool to bark. I got a reprieve as I am preggie. It's nice all the concessions you get when you are pregnant. A gal could use this.

I am growing daily now and eating well. I am rather suckie. I really like to be with my Mommy. 

I can be just 2 weeks away from motherhood. Can you imagine? Will Mom get her closet done and our room setup? We have furniture to move, linoleum to lay down, xpens to set up, cameras to set up and all those supplies. 

Xrays are happening in 11 days.

PS: Yes tonight I felt puppy kicks. How exciting!

Doing the Math

Now if Adele took her very first mating, count 63 days and tell me what date you come up with. Her first mating was July 31st. We could have pups on the 2nd? YIKES

Scary to me as I have SO much to do.

Adele's First Belly Shot

Click on Photo for Larger ViewYes, I am a bit bigger than Roxie but that happens when she started after me. I usually eat everything but not tonight. Best get more creative, Daddy. Roxie ios teaching me bad habit. hahahahaha

Eating and All That Stuff

Can't a gal ever just relax without a clicking?

It's been raining and I don't do rain. hahahaha Well okay the human makes me but if I had my druthers....

I really like the comfort of the couch. This particular couch is the comfiest couch we have. The humans leave it in the room as that is what they relax on to watch us. I am eating well now. I am not picky. Just FEED me. Tomorrow the human will do a belly shot as she shaved my tummy and Roxies. Roxies is just starting to grow but I am obviously much larger. As gestation is only 63 days 1 week makes a huge difference. 

I am sleeping a lot now and eating. This is normal. Inula tries to play with me and she doesn't know why I tell her in no uncertain terms I am not in the mood. 

Stay tuned to tomorrow's belly shot.

No Morning Sickness

I feel great. But I am a little further along than Roxie. I am eating anything and everything now. Just feed me. I even have a little tummy now. Roxie does too but mine is bigger.

In a month we could have puppies - whatever that is. heh