Sunday, September 14, 2008

I did my own nesting ...






today i spent all day getting the basement ready for the puppies [and myself seeing i'll be down there alot]. no progress on penelopes end ... this is taking longer then i thought but i guess 12-24 hrs from the time she hits 98 degrees so the fireworks might come in the morning. penelope spend the day very calm and rested most of the time. i know she is relaxed because i was able to take her temprature today with no struggle - usually it is a wrestling match to get it taken. posting a few photos of the set up i have for all of us. i think i have everything needed for the big moment and the days to follow.


10:15 pm





This is about the time I noticed Penelope was not acting like herself. Panting, pacing and restless. She would go in and out of her crate where she has built a nest for her puppies [awhh] and would not let me put my hand in there. Very protective. I went around collecting all the supplies I had bought and made a list of the things I still needed to get thinking I had till next week. Drive to the 24 hour cvs and grabbed the last few items. My sweet mom sat with Penelope, who just needed comfort, while I got everything together and I took a quick shower. Ready for the long night ahead. I ended up sleeping with her in the whelping box till about 3am. She had calmed down and fell asleep. I took this chance to sleep in a bed for the rest of the night checking on her every two hours. YAWN. Penelope went outside after waking up at 8:30am. Very Rainy morning. Penelope was able to wait till morning to go outside which I am very proud of. Thank You. Sitting in her whelping box she is very snappy, I think due to the onset of labor pain. I brought her food down and usually she is jumping to get at it. This morning no interest at all. Fifteen minutes later she ate a nibble. Surprisingly she ended up eating it all! After a trip to CVS last night for last minute supplies I need to go to the pet store to get milk replacer. This is for hand feeding the puppies in case Penelope is not able to do it herself. I also need to get a baby monitor so if tonight is another repeat of last night I don't have to go down every two hours just listen in! Her temp dropped to 99.3 which anything under 100 indicates the onset of labor - while 98 degrees tells us she is ready!!