Life around here has settled into a routine (for now). I do fear that I am spoiling Gidget, though. I have to feed her by hand, she won't eat out of the bowl. And she is in and out of the room where the puppies are a thousand times a day. She just doesn't know where she wants to be. And sometimes, she just barks at me because she wants me to come in and sit with her (and admire her offspring, I guess.
Everyone is growing and all have more than doubled their birth weight with the exception of Haymitch the 1st born and 2nd largest at birth. I think he will have doubled when I weigh tomorrow morning. This morning he was actually the same weight as Gael who was the smallest boy at birth. They all seem strong and can keep their own in the battle for the boobs, though.
Last night I decided that I could take my dog to Rally class (we've been out for 2 weeks). Just as I was getting ready to leave, I noticed that one of Gidget's breasts was hard around the nipple. A quick call to my coordinator at rescue assured me all was ok and when we got home, I put a little heat on it. She was fine this morning but I noticed it's a bit hard again this evening. There are puppies nursing from it now so I guess it'll come down.
I took a file to the puppies nails today. They are so sharp, like little hooks). I kept reading that you're supposed to cut them every 3 days and I think they probably need it but they are O tiny and I could just imagine taking off a toe if I tried to cut them. So, I thought to file them and lo and behold, got an email from the rescue coordinator a couple of hours later recommending the same thing. Not as easy as it sounds as the little toes wiggle when you file but I think if I do a little each day, I can keep them from shredding her belly when they nurse.
I ordered some fleece pads that my dog's breeder recommended. They are fabulous but Gidget likes to dig and I am continually picking fleece fluffs out of the box. I'm not sure she will ever stop that, at least until after she weans the babies.
The exciting thing for me is that when my husband came home this afternoon, I was in playing with puppies and he came into the room and sat on the floor with me. Gidget got a bit antsy but she let me introduce each puppy to him. He got to pet each one. Actually, I had left them with him last night when I went to class and she had to go out while we were gone. She let my husband let her out but he didn't try to go in the room. So, he's the 1st one she's let touch them since my friend (and petsitter) was here for the births.
Gidget and my dog have been very "barky" today. They start up at the least sound. This is not all together something new but taken to a new level. Driving me crazy.
Last night, Gidget was up several times. I never heard her but my husband did and he woke me up to take her out. This morning, I noticed that I am coming down with a cold. Took Vitamin C and Zinc and tons of aspirin hoping to ward it off. We'll see.
No one has opened their eyes yet. I read somewhere that Fox Terriers are later than some breeds but some time this coming week... can't wait. I can wait, however, for them to start walking. They can scoot VERY fast and amaze me at how rapidly they can get where they want to go. Usually under a rail or to the milk bar.
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