8 Days Old

I think the brown boy is a tri as he has eyebrows coming out. Interesting enough we usually put less in each box as we do not want them getting caught under and missing a feeding if Dennis falls asleep or I get extra busy. But this crew finds their way out and enjoy the undercover experience and then when it is to warm they crawl back on top.

Here is the gallery.

As you can see, they are plump beings. I do hold each puppy 3 or 4 times a day in purpose. Two of those times is when weighing and the other 2 is just because. The odd time I will hold them just to do so over and above the usual 4 times a day. I do this so they get used to being handled, caressed and they get used to the smell. What you do early on is important as it conditions them to people. Once their ears open, they will get used to sound. Eyes usually open the same as ears. How can you tell? If you drop something they will startle. We don't drop things on purpose but we vacuum and do all the normal things us crazy humans feel we must do.

Be sure to check out the videos.

1 Full Week Old

Here is the gallery.

They want for nothing. They have now doubled their birth weight. As you can see the one tail on the puppy is blurry as it was wagging so fast. When milk comes in, their tails start wagging as they are excited. Already they are communicating if you pay attention.

I am uploading videos. I was caught up grooming so I am getting to them as I can.

They have plump little tummies. No slits yet on this crew so I am not sure when their eyes will open. Misty's was early so we shall see.

1 Day Shy of a Week

Is it really almost a week. It is hard to believe.

Be sure to check out the videos.

Why does Raven hide her pups? To keep warm. To keep them safe and wouldn't we like to know what is going through her head. Today Raven and Misty side by side cleaned up a Misty pup I was holding and they were doing it like it was desired teamwork. So, they are learning to trust that Misty won't come and take over Raven's pups and visa versa. They really have a great relationship as mother;s do when they have pups together. It is a strong bonding that occurs.

Here is the gallery.

Raven pups had their best weight gain over the last 24 hours with all gaining over an ounce in a 24 hour period. They are getting older and especially #3 was much smaller when he was born but now he is sporting a round tummy. They all are. They want for nothing with only 3 they always have an unspent milk station to drink from.

Raven is eating better now. She had steak and bacon and cheese but still saying - only the good stuff!

5 Days Old

I still have videos to upload. I am so far behind but I will get to them tonight. You can find them here.

Raven hides her pups now so it makes taking photos challenging. She is keeping them away from Misty. It is so funny!

Pups are gaining slow and steady. #3 is still gaining the most. It is funny as he started out the smallest.

When I groom a great deal, Raven wants to visit me often. I wonder if she thinks I left teh building.

Here is the gallery.

4 Days Old

Raven is now out of the window and interesting enough she is not eating like she is starving any longer. She is starting to say - okay duck, okay bacon - kibble really - chicken I had this yesterday. As her milk increases due to the demands of the pups, her desire to eat the usual things will come.

Here is the gallery.

Pups are steadily gaining. Not crazy but usual for their size. Mom is always there for them. The 3rd one born tends to wander off and sometimes misses a feeding if I am grooming but he's the only one and is gaining the most. It's the odd time. You will see it in the videos.

They like laying up against mom's body. I change the bedding frequently so pups and mom is always clean. It means more laundry but I like them smelling the freshness of clean blankets. Don't you like that? So, it is worth the extra work.

Be sure to check out the videos. I tried to do an upclose on with my phone by myself.

3 Days Old

Ms Raven coddles her pups. She so envelopes them with her being. It is hard to explain.

Here is the gallery.

I think we arrived at normal temps in the window they gave us. I held my breath the entire time and I am breathing again. Yes, Misty would have gladly taken care of the pups but there is only 1 Raven.

Both moms have some pretty spectacular pups.

Only 4 days apart. It feels light leagues apart but as they get older, you will not notice. Then as they get moving and playing like crazy Sage and Spirit will present us with little ones. Hard to believe.

Misty and Raven's pups will be swimming this year and so will Sage and Spirits. Much to look forward.

Raven - my miracle beauty. Thank you for being you.

Our vet said in her 30 years she has only experienced one other ruptured uterus. The other one didn't make it. Now she can tell the story that Raven did. Now her pups can be mothered by one of the best! Though Misty is giving her a real competition in that area. LOL

Videos can be found here.

How Is She: Going on 3 Days

Temps remain down. Looks like she is out of the woods unless something happens today. She is alert, happy and feeding pups. She is also eating well and her output is formed. She is tolerating the antibiotics. Usually they get an upset tummy and refuse to eat. The clavaseptin seems to be much better in that way than the anti-clav. Good thing to note. She only has 4 days to go after today and I am hiding it in baby bell cheese so she is no issue with getting it down her. Little thankfulness moments, I say!

More later

Incision Look

Click on Photo for Larger View

As you can see it is perfectly clean. Not straight entirely but looks good. No redness. Temps so far are holding. She just told Misty no, you can't have my babies. Interesting times. She is not wincing when I hold her. She was when she got home.

She sits and smiles and had some of the steak Sylvia made as she looked at me with those adoring eyes - just 2 pieces and went I want more. I am so laughing. If she improves like this, I am so delighted. Thanks to all of you that cared, she went from really bad shape (I did not take those photos) to look at her  beaming as she has beautiful puppy puppies!

Thank you again to all that cared.

Dennis was worried doing night duty but she is eating. I usually get night shift if something is wrong. Thank you Dennis as I so needed sleep.

Raven and Misty goes out of their minds to see me each morning. It must be the massages!

There are 2 updates today!

Two Days Old

Here is the gallery.

She looks happy today and ate a bunch of steak. I am in recovery. Nathan taking a nap. She seems much happier today and temps are the same. So another couple of days and we will breathe.

Pups are gaining. She is a doting mom and so is Misty.

Here are the videos. I upload them as I go.

Raven insisted on seeing Misty's pups and today you could hear the sigh out of Misty going okay, if you must.

Raven communicates with me. She darts her tongue in and out if she wants something to eat. She stares at the water bowl then looks at you and back to the bowl so you can place it before her. Yes, I am so laughing but it is true.

Going to see if Nathan can hold her so I can do an incision photo but if not today - tomorrow.

Temps Etc

Her temps this morning is 101.7 which is normal for a dog. Google it. We celebrate. Pups all gained. She was BEYOND excited to see me. Must be the massages. She is not acting in pain. They did say pain for 3 to 4 days. Yesterday she was doing something that was concerning to me. She was sitting up and staring not moving for big periods of time. When I sent mail to my vet she said she is managing her pain and this should subside and if not, bring her in. She is no longer doing this. She is VERY happy with her pups. Shows them off to Misty. Now Misty doesn't want Raven to see hers. How funny.

More later.

Raven's Home: Plus Update

Good news. She is home. She has milk and she was over the moon and I mean over the moon happy to see her pups. She is feeding the pups and I will post videos as I can. I am a bit fried between this and the time change.

Here is a gallery.

Misty also looked - they are going but it was as if she knew that Raven was mom to these 3. Misty as a 1st time mom has a heart that is golden. I am SO proud of her. Sometimes mom reject other mom's pups but she didn't miss a beat. She loved them up. I do not say it lightly but I have amazing moms. It is one of the reasons you cry your head off when they have an emergency like this. Wearing a mask and crying is not easy. Glad I had extra masks with me.

We await any signs of infection. They did clean her out again to try to minimize infection. If it doesn't occur within 36 to 48 hours then she will be okay. They asked us to monitor 24/7 and take temps 3 times a day. She will so love me being so intrusive but better to catch early if something ocurs. They didn't realize we monitor normally.

She will have the pain meds wear off tonight, we are told about 7ish. She can no longer have pain meds if feeding pups. Funny she was on the same opiods Nathan was on. She is on max antibiotics just for 5 days unless her temps spike. As a dog that has never ever had anything wrong with her, she has that on her side.

I am hopeful now. I wasn't last night from what they said and stories of having to put a dog down that had something similar as they couldn't combat the infection - they really interfered with any possible sleep. Strange what people tell you that adds to your worry. They mean well but then your brain does not disengage.

Nathan is napping now.

So far she is alert, eating and feeding pups. Thank you from getting us from an emergency to back home. I so appreciate all of you! I know we have this 48 hour window but I am going to try not to think about it. Sure I will takes temps (normal last time) but I am hoping she will be playing with pups when we have a 6 week visit.

Her pups are lively and beautiful. .

Update on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 6:12PM by Darlah

Raven wants to feed her pups sitting up. They are too young for that but I suspect it is due to being sore. pain meds have stopped being effective and she can't have anymore. As I type, she is fast asleep for the very first time today so I am keeping it quiet. When she wakes up I will take her temp again (so far normal) and weigh the pups. I suspect they will hold firms as her milk needs to fully come in where Misty has an abundance. We will see how it all unfolds. I will be adding more videos tonight.

Bottom of Our Hearts

Raven didn't have a great night but a positive one by this morning. She is more alert they tell us. They are seeing fluid so they are not sure of infection but what she has on her side is she has always been very healthy.

Thank you for all the letters, the help - all of it. Not sure how we could have done this. Thank you for the blanket for Raven from Sherry. Pandemic and all has hurt so many including us. Just a fact.

After realizing we know what we are doing and have 24 hour watch, Raven will come home. The longer she is away the less she will be able to feed. If she can or can not, it doesn't matter. Her health does. The next 48 hours is critical and they told us what to watch for as those with infections drop fast. If she shows any signs, we must get her in immediately. Her uterus did burst and she is now spayed. Will she still have milk? 50/50 after a spaying. But in her case due to the uterus the spaying was necessary.

We rarely have issues. Last was Saffron but different. Thankfully a different emerg. Nathan waited 3 hours outside while they assessed her. He said she cried all the way to emerg. I have never heard her cry - ever. She was in very rough shape. I thought we would lose her and they did ask us if we wanted to sign a DNR on her. They did say it was a real possibility. So sleep was fleeting. I love my dogs through and through. Sometimes Nathan thinks I love them more than him but not true. It's different. They don't ask for much. They just want love.

It is easier if they were to remain for the next 48 hours but the financial cost is great and so is her mental health. She belongs at home. We will stay on top of it. Am I still worried? Yep but do I feel I can stay on top of it? YEP! What is extra work with someone you love - just work.

I will take photos when she is at home and hopefully she will bond with the pups but I also recognize pain, hormone changes etc who knows. Thank gad for Misty. This is why we have 2 litters at the same time. Rare but when needed it helps.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I am not sure how we could have got through this without all of you. We are not out of the woods but better than my imagination sent me last night after listening to the vets. I so hope she remains home without incidents. The world needs Raven's in their lives.

By the way all 3 of her pups have gained and are active.

Pups Are Here

Click on Photo for Larger View1st born 10:05am Brown tan sable with slight white tips on feet and white blaze on chest. This gal weighs 5-6/8oz 165g

Photos will be found here. Will add to the gallery, as we go.

Click on Photo for Larger View2nd born sable and white 10:12am -brown tan and white sable . He has white on collar, top of head, feet and nose. He weighs 6-6/8oz 192g

All videos can be found here.

Click on Photo for Larger ViewThis one was born when they did a c-section. We were able to be there. We rubbed him down, cleaned him up. He is the smallest. He is 4-6/8oz 136g. He is a darker brown boy that is feisty.

We lost the others and I was crying in my mask at the vets  - a hard thing to do. They allowed us to help. We had 6 - 3 lost.

Raven's uterus ruptured so she had to go to emerg. We do not know why. Pups had cords around them They gave us an estimate of 3 to 5 grand to just monitor for 24 to 48 hours. Don't have it but we will figure it out. It will be touch and go with Raven for that time. Yes, we could lose her and I can't begin to tell you how that makes me feel. I know some of this is due to my lack of sleep but I can't stop crying. Most telling will be 24 hours from now. No fever she will be fine. She did feed her pups.

Misty is delighted to feed the pups, clean them and love them up. We will see if Raven has milk when she comes home - hoping. These are her pups.

I will add this 3rd pup to the gallery. Not your normal. No video at a vet - just photos when we arrived home.

I need sleep but Dennis needs more as he is on night shift. I need food. Not even sure if we have anything in the house. Oh well.

Please celebrate the 3. They are gorgeous!

Videos are Now Up With Misty and Raven's 3.

Still Ongoing

She went into her whelping box herself. She kept me up all night - I mean not even a wink of sleep - 2nd time so far. Nathan was in with the 2 in heat and he said he didn't sleep as he was waiting. Really - he should trust that I would wake him up, Now Dennis is off to sleep. Nathan has had no sleep - must have had some and me none. Nothing has progressed but I am going to sit with her in the recliner and nod off here and there and check on the Misty pups. This is my day. Stay tuned!

Now What: Shivering Now

Temps back down to low 98. She slept well. I slept semi well though kept checking on her. nathan is always lucky during this time as he is sleeping in the guestroom with gals in heat. Soon that will be over but potentially he gets great sleep that way but he says not. LOL Me, I am usually a zombie by birth time when this waiting unfolds like it is with Raven.

She ate chicken off the top of her food - nothing else. So, we wait.

Won't even eat her fave treat. She adores vitalife duck tenders and I mean LOVES, LOVES them. Sniffs and turns away.

We shall see where this goes. She also stands and doesn't move like a statue.

Making Us Wait

Last night she panted ALL night and stayed up against me so when I brought her down at 630am after no sleep I suspected she may progress but she has not. Let me look at what her last date may be.

Hmm if she took on last date it could be the 18th - really? I do not believe that is possible as she has lost most of her mucous plug and she is acting as if shed is close. We shall see.

Temps

This is how it goes NORMALLY. She is back up to 98.9. Did she have a true drop or not? Time will tell. I will take her temps before bed, if she gives me a chance.

I am slowly going crazy as I am sure you are but at least you will sleep. Me - that is debatable. I always worry about a puppy coming and being asleep so I never do.

Temps dropping

Temps are now 98.0 just taken. It was 99 at 3pm.

She is not eating and wants to lay in my lap always. It is hard as I have to help put pups on etc. Hoping not 3am. Cancelled groomings as its too hard to think about her and rushing groomings.

Nothing Yet

Tail down, not happy but no labour yet.

Nesting

Nothing serious... Making sure I don't sleep?