Hi from the Nation’s capital everyone. Right now I’m stuck in traffic on a bus going up M Street. The energy level in this city Is tremendous! Everyone is really psyched up for tomorrow. The entrepreneurs are out in force selling all kinds of Obama memorabilia. And people are buying it all up. 7th street vendors and the crowd, which was almost all African American was buying everything in sight. Everone is happy and really friendly.
Fortunately for her the “last few weeks” are a mere few days (dog gestation is only 63 days).
The pups are due Saturday (Friday in the US). She’s got her last check-up at the vet this Thursday afternoon. Of course the puppies could come a bit early or a bit late, but that’s usually only a few days at most. So, from now ’til the pups arrive, I’m dog- and house-bound.
Usually dog births are fairly easy. I’ve been lucky thus far that none of my animals has had difficulty giving. But if she does seem to be having difficulties we will call the vet out.
There’s usually about half-an-hour between puppies, so a big litter will be around five hours from start to finish.
My job usually just involves toweling, and in the case of litters, doing a quick sketch of each so that I know their birth order and can record their weight next to it.
I’ve only seen kittens birthed, but it seemed like an awful lot of work for Mom.
Have you read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle? Your comment about sketching them and recording birth order reminded me of how much detail the author goes into when talking about the raising of the fictional breed of dog in the book. It was fascinating.
I just looked it up and it sounds like a fascinating read. I’ll add it to my long list of books to read someday.
If it makes you feel any better, Luna weighs 100 pounds and the pups will weigh between 12 – 18ozs each. There’ll probably be ten pounds worth of puppies by the due date, but they’ll come out in one pound increments. Compare that to my mother who weighed 100 pounds (pre-pregnancy) and had eight pounds babies.
Well I’m a good bit older than you and the horror movies I grew up on weren’t as graphic as they are now so you’ve got to put yourself in 1950-1970 horror movie frame of mind. 🙂
You know, it’s funny, I think I’m actually more excited about who our next president is going to be than about getting rid of BushCo…I’m excited about both, but it’s more than just that “anybody but Bush” feeling I had in 2004.
Happy January 19!
What’s everyone up to today? CBtE and I are off to do some Fairmount Park cleanup with Outward Bound Philadelphia this morning.
Well, I was talking to ask in the old cafe. 😉
Happy cleanup. And very happy last day of Bush-Cheney.
Heh. I had to go back and talk to you there.
I am so happy about the last day of B-C…not so happy about the early start to a cold day outdoors, though.
Did it warm up there? We’re in the upper 20s but the wind has kept it feeling colder than that.
Should be a high of 35-ish today. Balmy breezes and palm trees compared with Saturday. 🙂
We’re off- I’ll check back in after lunch.
Have a great day!
See ya.
And have fun … I guess. Well, pick up lots of stuff.
Well, young asklet and I need to get an early start – his iTouch needs service at the Apple store before I go to work.
Uh-oh. What happened to it?
At least they let you make an appointment for the service before you head in.
How was your weekend?
He was shut out from it. Had to reset to factory setting – nothing lost, fortunately.
I’m impressed the store opens early enough to do that.
Hope there’s nothing too much wrong with the iTouch.
Happy MLK Day! Government offices are closed, but I might slip in this afternoon and give the taxpayers a little extra while its quiet.
And then again, you might wise up and take a nap. 🙂
Good advice! I’ll endeavor to add one to my busy schedule.
More rest time for us overworked civil servants. < yawn >
And, I might add, underpaid.
Of course! < slaps forehead >
Hi from the Nation’s capital everyone. Right now I’m stuck in traffic on a bus going up M Street. The energy level in this city Is tremendous! Everyone is really psyched up for tomorrow. The entrepreneurs are out in force selling all kinds of Obama memorabilia. And people are buying it all up. 7th street vendors and the crowd, which was almost all African American was buying everything in sight. Everone is happy and really friendly.
I’m so envious!
Even on the TV screen it looks fantastic.
Have a great time and say hi to all the other tribbers you may encounter.
And I was just looking at your twitter page and damn it’s not fair! You got to eat dim sum.
Bundle up and keep warm and take extensive notes at the inauguration so you can tell us all about it. Oh yeah, and have a great time.
Bundle up and have a great time! I wish we were there too!
Play Super Obama World
Aw, poor thing. That last couple of weeks is really draining. I can’t wait to see what kind of a mother she’s going to be!
Fortunately for her the “last few weeks” are a mere few days (dog gestation is only 63 days).
The pups are due Saturday (Friday in the US). She’s got her last check-up at the vet this Thursday afternoon. Of course the puppies could come a bit early or a bit late, but that’s usually only a few days at most. So, from now ’til the pups arrive, I’m dog- and house-bound.
Pregnancy certainly has increased her snoring.
do you have a vet standing by, or do you think you guys can handle it alone?
Usually dog births are fairly easy. I’ve been lucky thus far that none of my animals has had difficulty giving. But if she does seem to be having difficulties we will call the vet out.
There’s usually about half-an-hour between puppies, so a big litter will be around five hours from start to finish.
My job usually just involves toweling, and in the case of litters, doing a quick sketch of each so that I know their birth order and can record their weight next to it.
“giving birth”
I’ve only seen kittens birthed, but it seemed like an awful lot of work for Mom.
Have you read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle? Your comment about sketching them and recording birth order reminded me of how much detail the author goes into when talking about the raising of the fictional breed of dog in the book. It was fascinating.
I just looked it up and it sounds like a fascinating read. I’ll add it to my long list of books to read someday.
If it makes you feel any better, Luna weighs 100 pounds and the pups will weigh between 12 – 18ozs each. There’ll probably be ten pounds worth of puppies by the due date, but they’ll come out in one pound increments. Compare that to my mother who weighed 100 pounds (pre-pregnancy) and had eight pounds babies.
I’ve seen puppies being born — it was amazing but also the goriest thing I’ve ever seen outside of a horror movie.
Good luck to you and Luna and oh boy, I am excited to see the puppies.
Gory Huh? Either you’re an extreme lightweight regarding gore (I certainly am) or I’m just inured where critters are concerned.
People giving birth, otoh, that reminds me of the movie Aliens.
‘Night all.
Well I’m a good bit older than you and the horror movies I grew up on weren’t as graphic as they are now so you’ve got to put yourself in 1950-1970 horror movie frame of mind. 🙂
Night.
… don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.
click for larger
I think we need this at the top of a new cafe, Andi. What do you think?
It is kind of perfect, isn’t it. 🙂
Though if you wanted to be more uplifting than snarky, you could use a picture of Obama … wait, more uplifting than snark, what I am saying!?!
You know, it’s funny, I think I’m actually more excited about who our next president is going to be than about getting rid of BushCo…I’m excited about both, but it’s more than just that “anybody but Bush” feeling I had in 2004.
No question, CG…
It’s done!