Finally It's Built ....

So with Penelope's temprature dropping, 98 degrees means I have 12-24 hrs before labor, I rushed home from work to get the whelping box built. I had already bought the supplies but half way through needed to run to Home Depot for more braces for the edges. Turned out really good, in my opinion! Penelope seems to like it. It will be where she spends time with her babies. It had to be big enough for an adult [umm me] to sit inside with her and the puppies. The last thing I need to do is screw dowel rods along the inside. This prevents the chance of a puppy getting trapped underneath Penelope she happens to lean up against the side.

We are just days away!!

Bigger and Bigger

- Happy Mom To Be -

Penelope barely made it through her walk this evening. We stopped four times to sit and rest. We walked through Roslindale Square so plenty of places to sit and people watch. She dragged her feet from the top of the street down at the end of the walk. She is exhausted these days but needs to keep moving to get her exercise in so she is ready for labor. Tonight she let me take some belly pictures - something she is very shy about usually!

identify

each puppy will get a particular ribbon so we can tell them apart. i don't think i will name them - might get attached and we can't let that happen :-)

vanilla icecream

i just told penelope she will be able to eat vanilla icecream while in labor. the icecream will keep her hydrated and the calcium is good for her and the puppies. i think having icecream will help while doing something her little body is not ready for.

tomorrow is day 55 and counting

we are nearing the big day. she is supposed to make it to the 19th but this is the stretch where anything can happen. i still need to get the whelping box built. working all day long before having to be home with the puppies all day has me exhuasted by days end. penelope loves it though as she has become accustom to laying on her back next to me as i surf the web and watch tv each evening. her favorite thing for me to do is scratch her belly these days. she lays her head back and closes her eyes as she just has me all to herself for a few hours! i am also getting all the supplies together for the birth and post labor. i want to be prepared so their are no surprises i could have planned for. i have been reading numorous canine labor stories and watching many videos online.

i think i am ready

i think i am ready

i think i am ready

i think i am ready

As of Saturday Sept 6...

Penelope's belly is measuring in at 28". I'll be keeping track from here on out because this is the time she should start to get really big! I also have to start taking her temperature. The normal range is 101 - 102.5 once her temperature drops below 100 then she should be ready to go into labor within the next 24 hours.

Yawn ....

Last night I tried to have Penelope sleep with me to give her some extra comfort. She couldn't do it - the lights went out and she decided it was time to either sit on my head, kiss/sniff my face, nudge me, walk around the bed - she was all thrown off with the idea of being free from the crate all night. Back to the crate .... sleepy night for me.

Today I bought the supplies to construct her whelping box. Anyone up for helping me put it together? :-) Her new area in the basement is coming together. It will be where I sleep along with Penelope and the puppies. I am starting to think there are a few more then two in her belly.

Is That Your Baby ... I'm Sorry ...

So today it became clear that Penelope has started to practice being a mom. She has started to take care of her little lamb toy. She made it a little "nest" with her blanket and was snuggling it. She was a little uneasy about me touching it. I was able to - so I guess that's good.

Had a conversation with Penelope's breeder today and heard about how great her mom was with her and the other puppies in the litter. If it runs in the family then Penelope should be ready to me a star mommy!

I am off to Home Depot tomorrow to get supplies to make her whelping box which is where Penelope will give birth and be when she is nursing the puppies. It is also the area the puppies will live for the first 11 weeks of their life!

Penelope is Pregnant

My baby is having babies. This was not planned but we are still excited. Penelope went in this morning to the vet and had xrays taken. Two puppies were found growing healthy in her little [but growing] belly. She has been showing some signs and we were all crossing our fingers that she was just having a false pregnancy but the signs were too strong for me to ignore.

We just returned from a few days of fun in Vermont. Penelope spent her days bounding through the fields and going on brook runs. Was her last real energy! The day after returning I went to play with her and she has zero energy. Big sign that she was possibly pregnant.

"Two weeks and they will be here" the vet says! Two Weeks! Okay time to get things ready. Going to Home Depot tomorrow to get supplies to make her whelping box which she is supposed to be sleeping in 2-3 weeks prior to labor to get used to it. To make things more interesting I have moved back home with my parents for the time being. In two weeks my parents small Boston home will have six [maybe more] dogs living under its roof! My parents own two dogs, I own two dogs and at least two puppies are on their way. My poor parents.

This blog will serve the purpose of keeping track of the next 2 or so weeks before labor, during labor and the eight weeks that follow while the puppies get ready to be placed in loving homes.