My Baby Girl

Lowri - My baby girl arrived yesterday.  TM took me to the vet's office in Knoxville.  They poked and prodded me for just a minute or two then whisked me away from TM.  Next thing I knew, TM was petting on me and my baby girl was getting her first meal.  My belly hurts and TM won't let me lick it.  She does give me good drugs though. 

When we got home, TM weighed my baby - 14.1 ounces.  Then she let me out of the car and I peed and peed.  TM then picked me up and carried me to my baby.  Good thing too, I was still wobbly.  I saw my baby girl.  She is adorable!  I licked and licked her.  TM kept giving me calcium tablets.  Finally I started to chill out.  I have to say, one baby is WAY less work than nine.

Kevin - I have barely seen the little girl.  TM is keeping me out of the puppy room.  Come to think of it, I have barely gotten to see TM.  She assures me that will change. 

This morning's picture

The first picture

Christmas and After

Lowri - Christmas dinner smelled SO good!  TM made ham and smoked turkey with all the fixings.  Sadly, smelling is almost as close as I got.  Fortunately, for me, TM is not a neat cook.  I helped keep the kitchen floor spotless.  I can attest that the turkey was as good as it smelled.

Today, TM went to town.  I got left at home and Kevin got to go.  I am not pleased.  Good thing TM came back bearing gifts.  Aidan and I both got Nylabone treat balls - with treats inside.  I made short work of getting my treats out.  I ripped the top off.  TM said the treat ball had to be Nylabone Lite.  Last I saw of it, TM was throwing my gift in the trash.

Kevin - I had to go with TM to town.  I mean, I got to go with TM to town.  We went to Tractor Supply Company.  I got to go in.  Oh goody.  <sigh>  At least there was a buffet available in the dog food aisle.  Apparently, some sacks had ripped open, spilling some treats. 

TM went to another store and bought us some toys and treats.  Aidan and Lowri got the treat balls.  Aidan (the Vizsla) is still working on his.  I got the canvas dragon toy.  I really liked.  As soon as Aidan got out of his crate, he took my toy.  I was with TM at that moment.  He ripped off the face and pulled out the squeaker and the stuffing.  TM just sighed and cleaned up the mess.  I like the unstuffed toys best anyway. 

Aidan had also ripped up the bed TM made for him for Christmas.  He slept on it one night and ripped up the corner.  It is no longer in his crate.  TM says Aidan gets bored when he is crated overnight.  That's why she got him the treat ball.  I think Aidan is just naughty.

Woe Is Me!

Lowri - TM took me to the vet's office yesterday to get a picture of my belly.  She wanted to know how many puppies I had in there.  There is ONE!  Oops... 

Woe is me!  TM immediately cut me back to almost my pre-pregnancy rations.  I am STARVING!  She says I am fat. Who knew she would be such a stickler about food!  I am going to have my one baby sometime next week.  TM is taking my temperature twice a day - oh joy.  She has also lined up another expectant litter for my baby to play with.  I see a lot of road trips in my future.

Kevin - This is a lot of fuss about nothing, well almost nothing.  I am not impressed.  TM has ME.  That should be enough.

Two shots of Lowri

Lowri - TM has been saying I am nowhere near as large as I was this time last year.  While I agree with her, I think I am still carrying more than just a few puppies.  TM is going to have to wait until after Christmas to see how many I actually have.

11/08/14  Last year I had NINE  - way too many!

12/17/15  Any guesses on how many I am carrying this year?

Hallelujah!

Lowri - Today, TM upped my food ration another 10%.  I am getting over 30% more than normal.  Yippee!!  I got it in TWO meals.  Joy, oh joy!  I LOVE my food.  There are definitely perks to having babies.  Next week it goes up again!  Life is good.

Kevin - I have had babies too.  I never got more food.  In fact, when TM upped your ration, she cut mine by 10 %.  I might starve.  TM keeps feeling for my ribs and muttering.   I heard her say she may cut it even more.  I need to go have more babies so I can get more food too.

Lowri - It doesn't work that way, Kevin.  Only the girls get more food.  The boys never get more just cuz they are having babies.  <snicker>

I Am a Sneak

Lowri - TM is peeved with me.  I tried and tried to get her to change the title of this blog, but I can't type and she won't change it.  Last night, I happened to notice that the big container of Aidan's food - which is sitting at MY level on the floor - was not latched.  What am I supposed to do?  I am eating for a litter and TM is regulating my food.  I popped the lid up and started eating.  YUM!  TM was wondering where I was, and I quickly came every time she called.  Didn't want her to get up and check on me.  I forgot about PR.   He caught me with my head in the container.  Bummer, there was a lot of food still to eat.  The only good news was the TM forgot to tell PR to NOT feed me in the morning.  I got my entire morning ration.  I am a happy camper.  Oh yeah, TM has been diligent on letting me out to potty.  That is a good thing.

Kevin - I am still the good dog.  I got to herd with TM yesterday.  The sheep obeyed me.  TM was doing some weird stuff, though.  She wanted me to walk up to the sheep - not bring them to her.  I didn't really understand what she wanted, so I kept fetching them to her.  We went to the small pen and things worked better.  TM kept telling me I was a good boy.  I like making her happy.

Food and More Food

Lowri - I am just over six weeks pregnant and I am getting lots of food.  I am so happy.  TM waits until I am five weeks pregnant before she increases my food.  I tried to tell her to start giving me more earlier, but she is stuck on doing what is in the book.  So at five weeks, she increased my food by 10 percent.  At six weeks she increased it 10 percent, and it will continue to increase by 10 percent a week until I have my babies.  Once my babies start really growing, my food will really increase until I am getting all I want.  Last time it was 3 1/2 times my normal ration.  I was eating almost three pounds of raw food a day.  HEAVEN!  Ms Cathy O-C saw me when my puppies were eight weeks old and told TM I was in beautiful condition.  All I know is I LOVE my food.

Kevin - <sigh>  TM thought I was starting to look pudgy.  She said I had grown up and no longer needed as much food.  She cut my ration by 10%.  I have tried to suck in my cheeks, but TM isn't falling for it.  Oh well, I am getting a lot of treats.

TM has started teaching me something called Rally.  It is great fun.  We play it in the house, and I get told what a good boy I am.  TM says that a lot.  Plus, I get treats.  What is not to like.  I just have to stay really close to TM.  That is one of my favorite places anyway.  I just grin and grin. 

I'm Having Babies

Lowri - I am having babies!  I finally told TM.  I am due around December 29th.  TM is spending a lot of time loving on me - that is my due.  I need to be petted and loved.  I am hormonal.  I need LOTS of love.  I plan on milking this for all I am worth.

I am five plus weeks pregnant

Kevin - I am getting the short end of the stick sitting on The Mama.  Lowri is hogging her lap.  But I am having a blast Tracking and herding.  TM told me that I am the "go-to" dog with the stock.  I am getting to do all the work moving stock for lessons.  TM said she is very happy with me.  I am going train TM as much as I can between now and when the puppies are weaned.