4 Days Old

Everyone is gaining. One is gaining like crazy. He likes to push the little one out of the way to get all the milk stations. I make sure she gets a slot or two.

Here is the gallery.

On day 7 to 10 the pups are supposed to double their birth weight. Today it is day 4 and the littlest will have reached double her weight at tonight's weigh in. Tomorrow the first born boy who is the most zealous in his feeding will reach double his weight. In a couple of days the last - 3rd born will reach double her weight.

Be sure to check out the videos.

It means that although the littlest remains the littlest and may all her life - we shall see - she is ahead of schedule on her weight. Bravo little one. Despite your brother, you are still gaining. LOL

Pups are doing well. They like to be in a soft cocoon. Sage's does too. Never saw pups this early on having a deep appreciation for soft.

Day 3 Routine Settling In

Everything is settling into a routine. Pups didn't gain as much last night but Dennis was tired. They gained a normal amount. LOL

Here is the gallery. I may add more later.

Spirit is more relaxed. She does go out of her whelping box now so she is no longer stressed. It is nice to see. Her pups want for nothing.

I didn't sleep so much so you will see a ton of videos.

So look at this puppy and look at Sage's puppy that I highlighted today. This one is a chocolate. Sage's is a Brindle.

Day 2: 3 Beauties: Weights Added

Spirit has come out to get hugs a few times today. She is more relaxed.

Her pups are gaining well and finding the milkbar. I will add the weights after I do the 7pm weighing.

Here is the gallery.

I am working on getting the rest of the videos up. I am trying to get them done. Apologies.

The videos will be found here.

They are beautiful and lively!

Puppy 1 Boy Birth 6-7/8 Now 9-2/8oz

Puppy 2 Girl Birth 3-6/8 Now 5-1/8oz

Puppy 3 Girl Birth 6-2/8 Now 8oz

Sad News

Last night, at 2am, Spirit's last-born puppy faded away. No cry just simply failed. Spirit tried to get her moving, to revive her. This was hard on her as it was on me. I have photos but I see no point in posting. In going over this, she never truly latched on and it most likely was an attachment issue in utero. It happens. We have had a few over the years - not many but never one that refused to latch on. Perhaps not developed enough to make her debut.  It tells me she was not meant to be.

I cried by myself last night terribly and Spirit had her grieving and then she wanted her out of the whelping box, the blanket gone and then for the 1st time she left her xpen relaxed. She ate. She went outside where before she wouldn't leave the xpen. She slept on her back vs feeling the need to keep the pups encircled.

I am crying as I type. This will pass, I suppose as it has for Spirit but not yet. She is focusing on the living which is gaining like crazy and doing really really well. I need to as well. 

Nathan got the news this morning and was incredibly sad but I didn't post last night as he was the 1st I needed to tell and I was too raw so I napped from utter exhaustion emotionally and otherwise. Dennis will go on night duty tonight. The 3 pups are doing exceedingly well.

Less Than 24 Hours Old

Soon, perhaps when you have read this, they will be a full day old. I am still feeding the last puppy every 2 hours. She latched on for a minute but that's all. Then at 530am, she latched on for 2 minutes after a feeding by herself. We will still need to feed her as she is not latching on long enough but she finally is interested. Bravo, little one. I talked to a friend out in BC who also had a little one that she had to feed till day 4 and then no more. It appears similar - no issue at birth - just not interested at 1st and small. It's a lot of work feeding but pups are worth it.

Here is the gallery.

Here it is 430am. I will do another feeding at 530am and then it is Nathan's turn till I get up. I need ear plugs as I hardly slept when we got home.

Pups are maintaining not gaining yet but Spirit's milk is in now. She dotes over the pups. She is so proud she had more than one. You can see it.

She's eaten well on my watch.

The videos are up. I am all caught up.

But I would be lying if i didn't say, I need to crawl into a bed. I suspect noise or no noise, I will sleep.

The other photos and videos will have to be done by Dennis. I will do the blogs. Bare with us. We will come out the other side and I will be doing it again!