So I have been working very hard on my websites and not having a lot of time for much else. Last night I was just settling into bed and I gazed over at the empty playpen beside me. I was hoping I would sleep well even with Daphne & her Little Puppy sleeping in their Whelping box, between My husband and I. I then thought about Gwenny sleeping on her bed in the kitchen. Gwenny is due to deliver her litter on March 8th but she is quite large and I am always thinking of their comfort when they are that close to their due dates.

I knew that if I did not get Gwenny and put a super comfy bed in the playpen that I would never sleep, after all I would want to be in a private bed that is more comfy, especially if I did not have to share my bed in the kitchen with my yorkie friends.

SO I went out into the kitchen and asked Gwenny if she wanted to come with me to the bedroom. I was actually glad to have a reson to go into the kitchen because I remembered I forgot to turn on the dishwasher anyways. So, I ran the water hot, turned on the dishwasher and then opened the gate between that end of the kitchen and the hallway. I only had to say "Hey Gwen Gwen are you coming"? and she quickly ran out of the kitchen past the gate and into the hallway. She could have gone in one of two directions upon her exit from the kitchen, if she turned left she would have entered the living room with the extra fancy beds, more dog toys and soft furniture to sit or lay on. If Gwenny had turned right she would enter the hallway which leads to the downstairs nursery, the bedrooms, the hallway bath and the laundry room. I usually see Gwenny go into the living room because she loves to lay on the couch and chew on her bones, especially if she can be alone in there, but she did not turn in that direction. Instead Gwenny turned right and walked down the hallway past the downstairs doorway, past the bedrooms and hallway bath and right into our bedroom. She walked with a purpose.. She approached the playpen and then with the slightest lifting of her front legs on to my knees she signaled me that she wanted to get into the playpen. .. I was happy that I did not have to try to pry her away from the toys in the living room or off of the couch. It did seem that she was going to settle in quite quickly into the softness of the bed I had placed in the playpen.

I was glad I put her in the playpen even if it was a bit early, it just felt like she would be happier there beside me. I did hesitate a bit becasue Gwenny can jump and climb almost anything and I was a bit fearful she might jump out of the playpen and onto our bed. If that were to happen then Daphen could get quite upset and feel that Gwen was trying to get to her baby in the whelping box. If Daphen felt that then there would have been some sort of scuffel between them. A Yorkie mommie is a protective as a human Mother or moreso on the lies of a mother TIger, they will fight to the death to protect their young.

To my relief, Gwenny seemed o have no interest in trying to jump or climb. Daphne was sitting in her whelping box with her puppy watching for the slightest indication that her baby might be in danger. No signals were received by Daphne that Gwenny was going to get near her or moreso her baby so Daph lay-ed down and cleaned her baby then nursed her.

I was so pleased that Gwenny seemed to be going to stay in the playpen. I petted her and talked to her and she was happy and wagged her tail. I had made the right choice in bringing her into our bedroom. I then thought that Gwenny was being so good that I would get her a extra special bone to chew on. We call it the pregnant mommies bone. Every pregnant Mommy gets to have this extra special bone to chew on. The bone lasts for days and days and they love it..

Gwenny was busy chewing and chewing and she got quite thirsty so I took her into our bathroom to give her a dish of water and then let her go potty. She went back to chewing the moment she was back in the playpen and also back to panting like she was really thirsty again. I gave her some more water then I decided to take the bone away. Now I hated to take the bone away because she was enjoying it so much but I could not take the panting and water then potty routine all night if I wanted to get some sleep. Gwen did not seem upset about the loss of her bone and she layed down and then did some minor digging/nesting. But this is something she does anyways. It is also a signal of the onset of labor.

I said to Lee my husband that I was  a little bit concerned about the panting Gwenny was doing and he & I decided it was brought on by the bone chewing and nothing to worry about. I sleep with one ear open all night anyways so if something changed I should hear it. I was thinking that with her litter being due in eight days and the panting it might be a good idea if I check to see if her milk was in.  It was…..ummmm this is the second sign of impending labor, but no, it was eight days away. .. it couldn’t be this early, eight days early, that could lead to premature birht and sick or weak or dead puppies.  Daphnes milk was in for a week before she delivered, and other mothers milk is in for a long time too , so Im just being a worry wort right?  

Wrong… The panting went on and off during the night, the “nesting” kept happening and Lee and Daphne went into the other bedroom so that I did not keep them awake. (Funny, how he doesnt go in there when his snoring keeps me awake)..oh well thats another story for another time.

I am almost convinced that Gwenny is going to deliver early. I get my birthing kit and place it on the bed, I get a waterproof pad ready just in case. Then I deceide to rest and try not to think about the possibility of premature delivey of yorkie puppies.  I got about two hours of sleep, then the stiring of Gwenny, and her looking at me to make sure I was watching her, kept me awake. I got a box of cereal (I would have loved potato chips but I didnt want to provide any additional padding to my behind), so I went with cereal.

Now for a quick interjection, If it is the middle of the night and you HAVE to be up and wide awake and attentive for any reason, I can guarantee you there will be nothing to watch on any of the 300+ telivision channels cable provides, that is if you enjoy wathcing anything other then a infomercial. I thought I had enough stuff recorded to keep me busy and awake but I had already watched most of it since I was not planning on a early delivery and I wathced so much of the stuff already from being SNOWED in for so long.  Oh dear, I resorted to pay -per -view.. Turly I had no other choice, either that or risk ordering some lame product that was on the infomercials. The onger your forced ot listen to them the more you risk the junk seeming as if you must have it .

Now back to Gwenny, yes I think I saw a contraction out of the corner of my eye. No, I must be wrong, it is too early. I see another one then a third, Cr-p this IS going to happen. I get out my emergency respiration injections, the needles, and then wait. That is the hardest part. Am I waiting for sick puppies to arrive? Am "I waiting for premies who I will not be able to save? about a hour of contrations yields a puppy, a male, seems to be normal size, seem to have all his hair, he is breathing alright too. Wow, eight days early and he is fine… I then hope the rest are fine too. The second puppy is fine, the third too, the fourth-not fine, its a premie, its a girl, its not alive, I can get it to breath, I pull the dophram into the needle, remove the needle, lace the mirical fluid under the tounge, not reaction, repeat procedure, not reacting again… I know at this oint that with the hair not being present and not breathing that this premie was not going to make it…. I place her in a soft washcloth, Gwenny is looking at me and I know she is asking me why I haven’t fixed the puppy and given it back to her.  This is a hard look to see from a dog you love. I try to tell her the puppy did not make it and that I am sorry… I think she knows what I was saying. She looks at the cloth and says goodby to her little premie girl.  She then is tending to the other newborns and has two more puppies. All alive and doing well.. Six puppies were delivered, four males, two females with one female premie still born. The birth takes five hours from the first puppy to the last… All are nursing well, Gwenny is fine, we got all the placentas, none are retained.

Im sleepy, Gwenny is enjoying her puppies. I give her some canned food and fresh water…We did well with the unexpected early birth…The little girl we lost is given to my husband for burial. Then I take a nap and so does Gwenny. It is now ten in the morning and I want to sleep the rest of the day. I cant sleep the day away because there are other moms and puppies to tend to but it sure would feel good to take two days to sleep….

This is my day today up to ten in the morning. Some sad, some blessed. Blessed that the rest of the early puppies are fine.

I did not spell check this, and I am not great with puctunation either. If you see a comma I indended there to be a breath taken at that place by the reader.

O.K. I have ot posted for a few days and I am very tired so that is all I have to say for today except..

I have sme funny and interesting things to blog about, so I think if things go well I might do it tommorow. Look for it then. I think you’ll enjoy the laugh.

Thanks all

Sorry Im so un-inspired from being tired.

Yorkie Brothers snuggling each other saying "I love my brother"

This is Paddington saying “I love my brother Kennsington” .

These loving little guys are not only sweet and affectionate but they love each other too. I love the moments like this that I get to see with the puppies. I take time “to smell the flowers” in my life, and this is one of them.

As The great Jackie Gleason would say “HOW SWEET IT IS”!

I think tonight will be the night that Daphne delivers her puppy. I say puppy because I think she only has one.  Snow is finally cleared from the driveway and the sidewalk. We made it out the our cottage where my sibling lives. She has been super warm but she is running us out of propane… love her but sort of mad at her too…….. We  provide the cottage and yes she takes care of our males dogs. (our males have their wn room at the back of the cottage..per A.K.C. rules of separation of males and females to prevent accidental breeding ) but jees she doesn’t need the heat at 80 so she can wear a tank top and light jammy bottoms. Put on a long sleaves and a sweater and save us some money PLEASE…..

Yorkies loving it.

 This is going to be a short posting today on this blog.

First, I think I am coming down with a head cold.

My husband also is getting sick.

Daphne has not delivered her puppy yet and I’m worn out and tired.

I wanted to show you how we all were chilling out yesterday on VALENTINES DAY. Needless to say some of the girls sneekes up onto the family room couch to grab some zzzz’s with Lee.  Yes they are bit spoiled but they are happy.

They love to be as close to Lee as they can get. 

Pictured is LACY, tiny one and half pound girl.

Ella a two pound girl, India and Mercedez.

Read this posting from USA Today and you will see why I am always careful to ask for gas anesthesia instead of Intrevenius

http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2010-02-11-dolittler12_N.htm?csp=YahooModule_Life

Here is a little bit of it.:

Vets, pet owners out of the loop on recall of anesthetic drug! By Patty Khuly, Special for USA TODAY How safe are the injectable anesthetic drugs that your veterinarian administers to your pets? Researchers have devised them, veterinarians have tested them, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved them. And refinements are always ongoing. After all, our pets are family and they deserve nothing less. But what if something goes wrong in the manufacturing process — say, akin to a Toyota Camry’s turbo-charged gas pedal — and the reports start rolling in? This is why Do persistant research for my clients!!!! To be able to discuss these issues and to alert them to these potential harmful issues.

Today brought a funny event from Little Miss Mimosa. (Mimosa is Elyse’s daughter and sister to Truffles) . I carried Mimosa out into the family room where Ella & Lacy spend most of their time.  The dogs have most of the run of the house except for the family room where we limit their time  to only being in there if we are in there.

Anyways, When I carried Mimosa out into the family room I was holding her for a long time then I curled up in the chair and took a nap with her. Somehow during the nap she must have gotton down on her own. When I got up I forgot she was out there with me ,and I proceeded to go ahead and take some pictures of the puppies. I did some laundry, and worked on the computer for a tiny bit.

 After about three hours it dawned on me that I had forgotten to bring her back into the main part of the house. I called her name and she did not appear from anywhere in the family room. I did’nt think she was tiny enought to fit under the furniture like Lacy does, but I looked anyways and I still could not find her. 

 This was perplexing, and truthfully it made me fearful that I have missed her scooting past me and she had gone out into the garage.

I looked in the garage for her and she was not there. Now I was very worried. Mimosa was not in the family room, not in the kitchen. Not in the garage, so where in the world could she be?  I started to look through the rest of the house. I did not think she could get into the rest of the house since we keep up puppy gates between the rooms.  One gate is between the kitchen and the family room, one gate is between the kitchen and the rest of the house including the formal living room, the hallway etc.. 

 Now to digress for a minute.

We are watching two dogs for my protege Cyndi Hansen (she is coming to pick them  up tomorrow) ,well , both of them can jump over the puppy gate just as our Mia can so instead of the one gate between the kitchen and the rest of the house, we have two gates up, one on top of the other. It is VERY incovenient.  Because you have to walk through the one puppy gate with the top gate  in your hand. Then put the top gate  back down on the puppy gate. It is  a pain in the  “you know what “ . 

 Well, those gates were (what appeared to be) in a undisturbed state. But, I look through the rest of the house anyways.

I knew we had not opened any doors so she could not have scooted past us and gotten out.  I was looking and calling for her to no avail.

 Mimosa was not in the formal living room or under any of the furniture, she was not in the hallway bathroom, not in the guest room, not in the office, not in the laundry room or in our bedroom or any closets anywhere. 

 I even went to the first level of the house and looked in the nursery, the first level kitchen, the first level bathroom, the bedroom and the family room even the storage room on that level….. No Mimosa…

Now what was I going to do to find her?

I knew she was here somewhere in the house and I was pretty sure she had not walked down the stairs to the first level. 

 So back to searching upstairs for me.  “Mimosa, Mimosa, Come here Mimosa I have treats”  no response!  No movement in any room that I could see.  All the other dogs and puppies were in the kitchen and the house was quiet!   Erry Quiet!

I finally figured out that she  must be hiding.

I then figured out that if I sent her sister Truffles out to find her, I may finally be able to figure out where Mimosa was.  

So, Truffles was placed in the formal living room. This caused much barking and crying from my other dogs and puppies because they wanted to be in that part of the house too. 

 Truffle’s however had no clue that I wanted her to find her sister Mimosa. And she began playing with all the toys I had forgotten to pick up. 

 You should try to tell a puppy to find her sister when there are fun toys in the room.  —- Not EASY

I had to pick up Truffle’s and put her in each room and shut the door so she would search..

She searched all right, she searched and found a tissue in the guest room that had fallen behind the bed.

She found a pen in the corner of my closet and a dryer sheet in Lee’s. Truffle’s found a piece of paper in the office and thought she would tear it up, after all ,it could not have been important, I must have been left there for her to shred, or so  she thought.

It was about this time that I heard the dryer buzzer go off in the laundry room. I figured I would at least fold this load of clothes before it got too wrinkled and I would have  to re-rinse it, and then re-dry it in order to get most of the wrinkles out.

So, with Truffles searching (rather mores o being a puppy and getting into other things she shouldn’t .

 I started a load a new load of clothes into the washing machine and just as I reached for my last few items of whites a head popped out from the pile with a t-shirt on it.   MIMOSA was found . All sleepy eyed. Here she had been sleeping in the dirty clothes pile for hours and hours. 

Truffles mischif was now  reminding me why we keep the door in the hallway shut. Mimosa was happy to be back in the kitchen with the treats. Truffles was disappointed that her exploration had ended. I was delighted to have found my Little Miss Mimosa.

My only regret is that I did not take a picture of Mimosa when she popped her little head out of the clothes pile with the t-shirt on her head. How cute she was….

Did I mention? I love my dogs!!!!!

There is one more mystery to be solved… Just how did she get from the family room into the kitchen was because she can squeeze through the bars on that gate.  But once she went back into the kitchen how did she make it past not only one puppy gate but two?????

Is it a storm or another word for Slow Down?

That’s what I think the weather is saying to us today and tomorrow. I went to the grocery store, bought batteries, have our candles and oil lamps ready, Three good books to read and made special treats for the doggies. Were ready for the storms, which has already dumpped 7 inches on us already. It is the pretty snow that use to fall when I was a kid and I did not mind bundling up to go outside and play. It is laying on the trees and twinkling in the moonlight. Lee has all four of the rescue cast in for the night . We have the mommies and new babies covered up. They still need their puppy pudding before they are tucked in for the night. The older puppies, Prada, Paddington, Kensington and Ramsey & Hammer have just shared some asparagus and are begging for more. They seem to know the evening is some how different but they don’t care as long as they can have treats and run. I think I’ll put them in a play yard in the kitchen tonight so they don’t wake me up tonight with the middle of the night RODEO they like to have. The cable is going in and out so I wont be doing pictures today or I could loose them if the cable goes out again, but please look for pictures and video clips tomorrow if the cable stays on.

Now for a tiny bit of sadness for me… I know my mom has been gone for fifteen years but I still want to pick up the phone and chat with her. I know it sounds stupid but when I was in the grocery store today and I reached down to pick up a jar of sauerkraut I saw the jar of SILVERFLOSS sauerkraut and it was the brand name she use to buy for us. I know that was a tiny touch on my shoulder from her to say she is with us but I do wish she was here. Darn addiction to cigarettes took her from us all too young. She missed seeing my kids finish growing up, graduating from college and getting married. Anyways, got ot go tears are making my eyes blurry.

This will be a short blog posting as I am very tired. It is also a very happy posting as well.

Emmy gave birth to her first litter of puppies yesterday. It started with me being awakened by the feeling of a gentle push against my ribs. You see, as I have told you before , when the pregnant yorkies are expecting we have them sleep with us. This is for several reasons,

1. They love it
2. We love it
3. sleeping with us produces good feeling for the mommies and they send those good feelings into their unborn puppies
4. It is a good way of knowing if they are going into labor.
5. It is easier and more restful to know they are safe beside us and not in their playpen where we cant not monitor what is happening.

Well all puppies are now resting and nursing well. Emmy is happy to be in the nursery with the other “MOMMIES” she ate well last night with her meal of puppy pudding and canned food and flavored water. She is in love with her babies and is showing them to us very proudly. Mu husband Lee and I were in the nursery this morning and we got the mommies out to run and stretch their legs and go potty. They got their quickly treats and then as we served them their breakfast they were lovingly watching as we held and kissed each of their puppies. Phaeton could hardly wait until it was her turn to show off her babies. They wag their tails as we hold and kiss their offspring. Emmy saw us go from playpen to playpen to hold and kiss the puppies. When Emmy knew we were almost at her playpen she laid over to expose her sleeping litter and when we picked them up ad kissed them and then placed them back in her “cuddle spot” she wagged her tail. 

These are the moments that melt out hearts. These are the moments that let us know we make them happy. These are the moments that make up for the sleepless nights. These are the moments we know we are blessed.

After a almost completly sleepless night, I reached over to cuddle Leah (yorkie) and felt a contraction. ooo the puppy was actually viewable coming out of her birth cannel. I wrapped her up in a blanket and rushed her out to the playpen in the living room to help her deliver the puppy. My birthing equipmentwas out there. See, this is why you should sleep with the pregnant mommies. Made it in the nick of time.. just as I was setting her down in the playpen the puppy came completely out. Good thing I had her in the blanket. The reason I did not finish delivering the puppy in our bed was because I had NO birthing equipment with me. No forceps, not clamps, no sissors, no dental floos or bleed stop, no suction, or respiration medication if the puppy would need reviving.

Anyways, There are two males and one female. I believe she is completely done but wilstill observe her for the next couple of hours just in case. I have been fooled before with a puppy surprise after several hours from what I thought was the last one.

This is Emmy’s first litter. Her Mommie Mia is also pregnant and due on about the 9thof this month. Emmy is doing well but having a hard time figuring out how to get all three of the puppies cuddled up in her tummy area for warmth & nursing. I will keep looking after her until she gets this figured out. She keeps looking at me and making sure I’m there to help her…

I am glad I am different from other breeders, I WAIT until they are close to two years of age (in most cases) so they are mature enough to give birth and be good mommies. I don’t rush them into having babies. If they are not mature and still young why would anyone want them to rush into giving birth. They would not be mentally capable of taking as good of care of the puppies as they would be if you just waited six to eight more months.

I’m glad I wait till they are ready. They need time to be puppies and then “teenage” puppies before they become moms.

More later. I was going to do new pictures and video clips today but now we will just take care of Emmy and the babies. Oh, I almost forgot, I’ll be washing our sheets today also. Needless to say birth even almost birth is a bit messy.