All these puppies have been keeping me from sitting long. So this entry is a bit late but here's the latest. C.J.'s puppies are doing well, I will try to get a current picture of the group up, 'til then you can glimpse them on our website under adoptable dogs. They are healthy and running around. It is amazing the amount of waste they produce too! Add that to the fact that C.J. had become a wet nurse to six more puppies. These pups lost their mother suddenly when only a few days old. We got them on the 10th of March when they were a week old. C.J. did her part providing them with warmth and nourishment but didn't really want anything to do with the cleaning. This is where Freddie came through again. They had an amazing partnership. She would feed and then he would get in the crate and snuggle and clean. Very cute. Anyway, we gave those puppies two weeks of C.J. and then passed them on to another foster. They will be ready for adoption in about 3 weeks. I don't think they would have made it as well without C.J....

 It has been one week since our last update and SO much has changed! Everyone has their eyes open and their ears. They are all eating wet food three times a day and growing like weeds! They are all 2 1/2 to 4 pounds and have teeth! Today they have started to play too. They were trying to attack my daughter's backpack zippers earlier! LOL. They are so much fun. They get fed in the morning and then they all get a bath and then in the afternoon and then again before bed. This last feeding keeps them quiet through the night. Alas, to sleep through the night. Such bliss!

This is Tipsy

 



This is Nora

 



This is Mare

 



This is X

 

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 Yesterday four of the puppies' eyes began to open. It is like watching seeds grow! LOL. I suspect that today two of them will be wide open and by the end of the week the other two will be open AND, hopefully, the other three will have their eyes open as well!  C.J. is learning to give herself some mommy time and space from the little ones. I think we have made it past the critical period. Things are still looking lovely. We have also, finally, given the puppies names and they seem to be fitting. If you go to facebook you can see each one tagged with a name. :)

 We lost Nubbins on Wednesday. I took him into the vet and he said that he was clearly in pain and that even if he did heal, the lasting pain would be unknown.  I said good bye to Nubbins around 2:00 p.m.  

 It is Tuesday night and Nubbins is still hanging on. He has a vet check tomorrow to see how his feet are going to do. I think C.J. is starting to get worn down feeding eight voracious pups. They are growing like weeds, four of them in particular! Tonight I started to supplement Nubbins because I think the others are just too strong for him to keep his place. He seemed to like it. Freddie has slowly been allowed to get closer and participate as well. Tonight he helped in the ceremonious butt licking. He also managed to give a few of them an all over licking. I think C.J.'s tongue is getting tired. She does come out of her den in the evenings to come and hang with the fam. Sometimes I check on her and find she has found a racquet ball and stashed it among the pups. She continues to eat well (she could probably stand to eat more) and go outside with the other dogs. She would like it if I would go out with them and play a little, otherwise she wants to come right back in. 

C.J. is having her puppies! She just had a third! I missed the first two but her babies woke me from my sleep. I knew something was going on but figured I would have a little time. I left her at midnight and by 3 a.m. there were 2. All the animals in my home were acting weird, particularly my boy cat Cosmo and FREDDIE! Freddie came to my bedroom door and was pacing! I do not lie and then I crated him and he kept whining. I was ready to ring his neck  but at the same time I was thinking...really? Does he really know something I don't? Guess so! I had a clue, though. I put C.J. out 5 times in an hour before I went to bed. Ok. with that said, you are going to have to go back to google groups to see pics cause I can't get them up!!!!!!! TONY!!!!!!! So sorry guys. TONY-please help me! LOL

 These puppies are looking good and C.J. acts like a pro! She has kept this event organized and clean as far as birthing puppies is concerned! We are up to 5, 3 girls and 2 boys. The girls were born first. I think we may have one or two more....i hear licking, well, here's one more! to see immediate pictures, please become a fan on facebook and check them out. I still can't figure out how to post them here. 

 

 Apparently, Freddie is not only keeping an eye on C.J., but has also considered himself "Baby Daddy" or loving boyfriend.  These two seem to be two resting peas in a pod. He even waits for her when they all go outside!  And speaking of outside, C.J. loves to fetch the ball and run with the pack and bark at the neighbor's dog with everyone else. One would think she was not pregnant, however, the awesomest thing happened the other night! I was lying on the couch and put my hand down to rub her belly and I felt the puppies rolling around! I have since been having my floor time with C.J. watching and rubbing her belly. It is a pretty neat time I get to share with her. So, as of now, it may be a little bit but that is good. She continues to eat well and everyday another rib gets hidden or another backbone bump disappears



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C.J. is doing well. My dog Freddie seems to be keeping an eye on her. Now that she has gotten familiar with my home, she seems to have settled right in. She has a nice, healthy appetite and drools as much water as she takes in. Yummy! I think she will have a few more days than we thought to gain some strength and energy before her labor. I think this is good. She does like to be a part of our day here. She is so sweet but, even pregnant, she has the will to chase a cat!!!! We'll see how that unfolds.