All together now.

The puppies are spending their days together--playing inside and out. We separate them into smaller groups for meal time and to sleep at night. They've all figured out the doggy door--I'll take a video in the next few days of them all trying to go through the door at the same time....

The whole gang going out for a drive.

Awww....

 Toys makes the best pillows...

Millie's Teal Girl

Millie's White Girl

One big happy family!

I had both litters together tonight while I cleaned their pens. They got along really well together. It won't be too much longer before we combine the litters. Once they are weaned, there isn't any reason to keep them separated. Both mama dogs have pretty much lost interest in nursing--I can't blame them, those are sharp puppy teeth!!

We're losing ground....

Looks like we now have two boys who prefer the litter box "bed." They will catch on, but in the meantime, they get frequent baths....

Millie's Tan Boy and Brown Boy

Favorite sleeping quarters

Tan boy loves to sleep in the litter box. What's crazy is that he potties in the box and then plops down right next to it and goes to sleep. We have to work on this boy's personal hygiene!

There Must be 50 Ways to Take a Nap

Sleep on your back, Jack
Make a new snooze plan, Stan
Don't play with your toys, Roy

Just let yourself sleep.....

Yum, Yum!

Solid food for Millie's litter, and it's a hit! Potty box not far behind!

Always a puppy pile!

Millie's puppies at 2 1/2 weeks old

Cassie's pups are walking!

My husband sent me these photos yesterday--puppies are walking! The puppies are changing every day. He tells me all their eyes are open, and today they started noticing each other. Such a miracle to watch them develop!

Hard work deserves a good nap!

Of course, I'm loving my own miracle of life here being with my new grandbaby--first bath today with lots of help from big sister!

Look what the Easter Bunny brought!

Millie and her puppies are staying with her guardians while I am away this week. They sent me this darling Easter photo. Look how big the puppies are getting!

Easter Gift

 This is how they grow so big--always eating! Such a good Mama, Millie!

Lined up at the milk bar

Eat and sleep and sleep and eat some more!

They are growing so fast--it happens right before our eyes!

Millie's puppies--5 days old

Cassie's puppies--10 days old

Puppies, puppies and more puppies!

This has been a long week already! After two all night litter deliveries, I realize I'm not as young as I think I am!

It's amazing the difference a couple days makes in puppies! Cassie's litter will double their weight this week--most of the puppies hit a pound today--started at 10 ounces. Cassie must be feeding them cream. I know she's eating like a princess--roasted chicken, ice cream, sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, vanilla pudding, egg nog--whatever takes her fancy. Tonight the dogs liked the smell of my Costco chicken nuggets--so guess what Cassie and Millie had for dinner! The name of the game is keep mama dogs eating!

Here are pics of the litters. The little chocolate girl in the middle of Millie's group is so fragile--praying hard for her and supplementing her by tube feeding puppy formula. She's much stronger tonight and is nursing well.

Cassie's litter had dew claws removed today. They came back home, ate a big meal and are totally wiped out--those are some relaxed puppies!

More tomorrow!

Cassie's puppies--4 days old

Millie and crew--almost one day old

Sad update....

I am heartbroken to report that we lost one of Millie's boys. He was very tiny and weak right from the start--4 ounces smaller than the bigger puppies. In spite of our best efforts to help him keep warm and tube feeding him, he just continued to weaken. After doing mouth-to-mouth for an hour, he still just had a slow, weak, irregular heart beat and only infrequent, gasping, agonal breaths, so I finally just let him be. He was gone in minutes. This is a sad day for us--so difficult to lose any precious creature of God's. But we are grateful for the six beautiful puppies that Millie has left. She is being a great mama. One other puppy in the litter is small--but she is a fighter. She gets right in there with her bigger litter mates and fights for her meal! I'll supplement her a little bit until she catches up, but the litter is doing well. I'll post more pics after I take a little nap....

Millie's puppies have arrived!

We're pleased to announce that Millie and Captain are the proud parents of SEVEN! Three girls (two chocolate and one cream) and four boys (three cream and one chocolate). It was another all-nighter! Thankfully, Millie's guardians and my husband were here to help. Three puppies arrived in 20 minutes--so we were very busy. First puppy was born at 2:50am--last born at 6:20am. Millie did a great job and is snuggled right in caring for her little pack. I'll post more pics later, after a good nap!

Just a few hours old!

Big Bellies....

The girls are soooo ready....

Cassie

Millie

Puppy Count Today!

Here are the puppy count xrays we got today! The vet thinks both girls have six puppies with maybe another one hiding--how many puppies do you see?? (Count a skull matched to a spine/rib cage.) Cassie's puppies' spines are more calcified (they are much brighter and more defined in the xray), so that means she is farther along. Also, see how Cassie's puppies are getting themselves lined up--that's another good sign she's getting close. The vet thinks Cassie will have puppies this weekend, and Millie will have her litter early next week.

We set up the whelping box yesterday, shaved bellies last night, got all the whelping supplies ready today. The girls are spending a lot of time stretched out on the floor. I think we're set!

Stay tuned!!

Cassie

Millie

Oodles of Doodles coming our way!

Both Millie and Cassie were bred within days of each other. It's going to be an exciting April for us! Cassie is due about April 7 and Millie is due about April 10. So many babies! So many colors! It will be a spring rainbow of puppies at our house!

Puppies for Millie!

Millie has been bred to Captain. We are so thrilled with this pairing. Captain is a deep caramel color--he has a white blaze on his chest, carries chocolate and may also carry the parti gene. His owner says he is outgoing and happy-go-lucky and is everyone's friend. We can't wait to meet these babies! Puppies are due the second week of April 2014.

Captain

Millie

Gus-Gus is looking for his new family!

This darling little boy is ready to go home! He is 10 weeks old today--the perfect age to bond with his new family. He went for a romp in the grass today--but did hold still long enough for me to snap this shot.