Puppies!

4 males 

1 harl  2merles 1 mantle and a black

June 30

olive is  digging at the couch---  so start looking for another futon

 

and it is 63 days from her last cover

 

i am going to watch her-- so this is it for DD today

 

look for updates

June 23, 2011

no sign of pups yet -  temp 99.9 -  megan did get the oxytosin shots from george's office-- we are to call him before use-- i have his cell somewhere

he is in  ?? australia??    so we are as ready as we can be---

 

ready-----with the possible exception of my missing collection of cheap washcloths --  cheap as in flimsy- nearly self destruct in the dryer-- but are easily stuffed in your pocket as drool cloths ----

 the kind in walmarts---- 4 dozen  for $8 .

 

 we may need those-  for those quick swipes at some totally unattractive fluid.

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an exact olive report

she did not eat any dry food or cottage cheese overnight--- but after a brief walk ( where she emptied the required containers) she did eat some cheese-- and has gone back to "sofa"  after clinging to me saying "where's priscilla?"

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re: dogs talking---- i had a splendid conversation with heydawg last night-- many unique  and changing tones besides the traditional "woof"-- he would make a short "sentence" then i would repeat it.. he was obviously enjoying the  concept... i wonder what i said????

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thunder--- and pi is concerned-- this was her first night on the back porch- and 2 of the pups are in kennel 8 ( the geriactic kennel with the more gently sloping ramp to the sleeping loft.)  megan said they were skittering up aqnd down the ramp with ease- so i left them there.

 

we have kennel 9 to inspect for dangers-- and then we can put 2 more there-- i could not believe ---clean floor this morning-- first time in 4 months??

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re: those sleeping "lofts"

have to be carefful we do not have a dominant problem with any of them-

i know here in the house 3 would pile up leaving crimson on the hard floor

so at best they need to have a blue daycare bed as an alternate sleeping place.

 

just some organizational details...

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priscilla will be along in a while--- she has one of those mechanical books to read---- as we sit around and watch olive

 

i believe it is called analyzing every phart.

 

good description

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i get at least one letter like this a day

 

wyoming-- there is nothing we can do

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Greetings,

My name is Mercy Hoyt.  I have faced a lot of closed doors so please forgive me if my email includes too much info or my thoughts seem scatered.  I first want to know if your organization donates dogs to persons living out-of -state, that seems to be my bigest obstical as I live in Laramie Wyoming. 

If you do, I wanted to know how long would I have to plan on staying while I worked with the dog if I were to be accepted for a dog?

I am a married 32 year old mother of 3 six year olds (yes you read that right lol 3).  We are of the Anabaptist Christian Faith (simular to the Mennonite or Amish).  I home-school my 3 children and we definately believe in doing everything together as family (dog would be included in this lol).  We live in a small house but have a huge yard and vehicle large enough for a large breed dog.  My church family would assist me in any travel or accomidation I would need to obtain a dog.  

I also have MS.  I had 2 surgeries last year to reconstruct my knees, however I am still very unstable and not able to walk unassisted very far.  This often leaves both myself and my children frustrated when they want to go for walk or to a park.  My husband works long hours and so many chores like grocery shopping for my family have become more and more difficult to do and often require more of my 6 year olds than I think is fair to expect of them.  I am often left having to wait for my husband to help me after he puts in 14 hours to do simple things like laundry, shopping and running other errands.  Most frustrating is needing him to assist me to the ladies room or when I shower or dress myself.  In the last few monthes I have also fallen while expeirencing boughts of weakness and/or vertigo.  My MS has now reached a point where I feel like my life is slipping through my fingers on my "harder" days.  I don't want my children to grow up feeling it is their responceablity to care for me, I want to take care of them. 

Please let me know either way if I may be able to apply for a dog from your program... if not any information at all would be of a blessing to me.  Thus far our only option seems to be to attemp to find and train a dog ourselves.

--
Thank you for your time, Mrs. Mercy Hoyt

June 24, 2011

olive---

no change--- doing well -- out walking -- getting very opinionated-- will sleep in the tv room  not on the lovely mat we made for her--- finally getting up on the sofa on her own--  this is going to raise heck with that futon if her water breaks up there..

 

she may be having puppies--- but she is having an equal amount of goo with them---

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what to do will be the next question when we get the blood results back ( about 8am)

 

she is stronger-- nearly normal--

?let her start labor--- or do a c section today ( if the blood test says so)

 

minus that swollen foot we would have had no question

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which brings me to today's venting..thank heavens for that foot !

keeping in mind i did not go to vet school--  my degree is in probability and logic..

 

there is a tendency among vets  and vet techs to assume any dane has "wobblers"--(weak rear end )  certainly a problem in danes-- and we have had a few- however.....

 

fortunately Olive had a swollen foot--- not badly swollen--- but significant - and dr. smith did not jump to the conclusion that her weak rear end was  wobblers and decide to analyzing  it by hyperextending olive's neck til she yelped...  a practice common in veternary practice--

 

i have been up for hours worrying about that concept-- so i remind everyone handling our dogs-- that neck  hyper extension may only be done with my written permission... and don't ever let any vet - or vet tech attempt it.

 

just put me in the weird person category.

( but also the wierd person who has to pay the bill for "the exam")

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our Army of volunteers has swung into motion  with the pending olive "confinement"

 

all the adult dogs need extra care now with the rest of us dealing with  olive-- so come ahead and walk/run and of them--- home depot would be a great walking spot in the rain...

anne took pi to costco yesterday and she never got down the first aisle for all the conversation pi started.  ... while paul bought 15 bags of dog food.... putting it in the back of tom's BMW --  (finally that car is useful)

 

i had didi  who made one suggestion about where we should go  and when i insisted we go straight,, she was fine...  talk about opinions...

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gay and her husband came over last night to have a conversation with heydawg--  plan is for her to come over Saturday and stay overnight and practice  dog concepts-

like door opening--  (doors open 4 ways)  it is just a plan ahead deal

and loading and unloading from a car-- open your driver  door-- open the door for the dog-- and do not shut your door til you are in the drivers seat-- in case you fall, hit your head,, and get carried off--- the dog has an open door/window.

 

good thing i make it a habit--  the other day i had to park bailey while i shifted dogs around--- and put her in the durango--- AND WENT ROUND AND OPENED THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER'S WINDOWS

good thiing  because 20 minutes later she came down to the t-tent with a "why did you leave me there" llook.

i had forgotten..

 

know thyself..

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i will send round another DD when i get the blood test

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June 22, 2011

slight delay in the daily doggie

 because olive stood up !! split second--- but she stood and is now resting on her sternum quite comfortable looking.

she had 2 minor meals since 11pm - and this morning i did manage to roll her on to the other haunch-- the "downside leg" takes a beating if we don't rotate her.

 

bonnie's concept of putting her front end  on a wedge pillow to slide that mass of pups rearward off her diaphragm  seems to be a good idea- her respirations are very regular.  yesterday they were not.  we even tried the oxygen  but she would nave none of that.

 

maybe-- just maybe  whatever she had is being  helped by the 4 days antibiotic.

 

the plan  now is---

well--- start with the facts  --- she was bred april 23 25 27 and sperm lives a few days (on a warm desk at any rate) so first possible conception is 4/23

 

--- but could be a few days after 4/27 which gets us to Monday Tuesday Wednesday of next week..   making it unsafe to just plain do a c section on friday--   but of course--- there is a blood test to see if the pups are ready

 

so  the plan is blood test on thursday--- and if they are ready do the c section on friday-- but if they are not--- george's is closed over the weekend  and george is in ohio---  with andover emergency vet serv covering-

i have been there once-  with bobby-- $500 for not much  so i was worried

i called and asked what an emergency section would be on the weekend- and she said $2500.  which is actually less than i had thought.

 

so that is the plan--- keep gas in the durango-

 

yesterday i did not see how she could keep going til monday--- but today she looks nearly normal--

when her "family " arrives i bet she goes outside with minimal trouble,

i just don't dare do it alone.

 

it is hillary's day to drive tom  ( i bet olive out weighs hillary  by 50 pounds)

 

figure if there are 10 pups  at 1.25 pounds each plus an equal amount of "attending goo" olive is carrying an extra 25 pounds. 

 

i bet paul comes today to help-- he is olive's stepdad 

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moving on----

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barbara's son-- with the cycle accident-multiple skull fractures etc 

 

 DAY TWELVE ...still waiting for him to open his eyes..I saw each hour on the clock again last nite..today they will insert the feeding tube and take out the breathing tube. they said he should wake up today or tomorrow... still waiting............B

 

i hate to think of her trying to drive out of boston with no sleep -- which was her last known means of getting there...

we did figure she could take the train from beverly and then the green line for much less than parking and gas....  but with no sleep it gets to be a safety issue too

 

barbara if you are stuck give us a call and somehow someone will come get you.. and your car.

 

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brainstorm of the day..

 i remembered gay rolands and her cane-- and how much she is like christine who had heydawg...  in spite of hey's massive size he is  a very delicate dog

 

anne and i took heydawg to meet gay at her work at the community college.

she was thrilled with him and he seemed to approve of her-- he needs a job and will be much happier with her.

 

she had some paperwork to do--- like getting verification of her vertigo from her doctor -- 

plan there is for her to come over Saturday night and spend the  required 24 hours with him-   she has even had danes before.

 

she has been around here a lot

famous for shucking the 3 bushels of corn for the clambake -- and paying $100 for the privilege of bringing her grandson here on Sunday to collect the day's fresh eggs.

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and rhea must not have killed that woman's cats-- as she nas not been returned--- i did get her name  from janine--  she is a polo guru-- not the kind in the fancy hat-- the kind with callous' on their hands.

 

there is a saying around here that before any of these polo men think of marrying a woman she has to prove she can ride one horse and lead 4 others and gallop thru the woods  to keep the polo ponies fit so the men can ride on polo day.

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kieth called and they are doing well  he is working 5 days a week  his only comment is hudson has developed an aversion to slippery floors too--

 what is this???  what are we not doing???

hudson will just get behind kieth's chair and hide-- thus not pulling him-- but at least not pulling him backwards either...

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danes and their quirks--- does make life interesting.

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and on top of  that    luna is red ( i.e coming in heat)

not the ideal-- but might be our last chance to get more bobby puppies----

 by the time she is fertile we will know about olive's brood.

 

June 21, 2011

OLIVE IS UNCHANGED--  

 ACTUALLY I HAVE NOT TRIED TO GET HER ON HER FEET  OUTSIDE FOR FEAR I COULDN'T GET HER BACK IN...

I WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR MEGAN AND PAUL  AND OR TONY AS THE LIFTERS OF THE DAY.

 

PRISCILLA SAID SHE WOULD COME AND CONSOL HER--

 

FLUID IS BEING PROCESSED THRU HER--  SO WE HAVE CONSIDERABLE LAUNDRY TO DO...

 

SHE LOOKS COMFORTABLE-- LYING ON HER SIDE  SHE  HAPPILY ATE 1/2 CUP COTTAGE CHEESE AND 3/4 CAN OF DOG FOOD.

 

I WILL START HER IV DRIP RUNNING AS SOON AS SOMEONE GETS HERE TO DEAL---

SHE WAS MUCH BETTER YESTERDAY AFTER HER STAY AT THE VETS WITH HER DRIP..

 

SINC E WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE IS THERE IS NO VERY SPECIFIC TREATMENT--  SO IT IS ANTIBIOTIC --- IV FLUIDS AND INCREASE CALCUIM BY MOUTH-- ALL OF WHICH WE CAN DO AT HOME

 

IF THE ANTIBIOTIC  "WORKS"  THEN WE MIGHT ASSUME  TICK BORNE SOMETHING  SIMILAR TO LYME.  AND THAT SHOULD HAPPEN TODAY OR TOMORROW .

 

THE LYME--3 DAY CURE ON  DOXYCYCLINE (FOLLOWED BY 27 DAYS OF MORE DOXY) CAN NOT BE TRIED WITH THE PREGNANCY

 

SO ON WE GO.  

 STAY TUNED..

 

EVERY DAY SHE  AT LEAST DOES NOT GET WORSE IS A PLUS-

 

AND I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT A CEASERIAN BEFORE THE WEEKEND.

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P.S.

JANINE AND HER STRANGE  ROLLERBLADING WEEKENDS-

 

LAST MONTH WASHINGTON DC-- THIS MONTH PHILLADELPHIA-- NEXT BOSTON IN JULY AND THEN NEW YORK IN AUGUST.

SHE SAYS THE GROUP - ABOUT 100 ARE INTERESTING BUT STRANGE  GEEKS-  THEY HAVE AN EVENING ROLL FRIDAY NIGHT   THEN 2 ROLLS ON SATURDAY AND A SUNDAY MORNING.. SHE ROLLED 68 MILES.

 

I ASKED HOW MANY HOSPITALIZATIONS-- SHE SAID NONE--- THEY ARE ALL HELMETED AND PADDED AS THE  100  OF THEM FLY AROUND THE STREETS

 

EVERY TIME YOU THINK YOU HAVE HEARD IT ALL.....

June 20, 2011

 

HAVING AN OLIVE PROBLEM

SHE WILL NOT GET UP ON ALL 4 FEET.

 

I DID MANAGE TO ROLL HER OVER THIS MORNING....

 

DO I REMEMBER  SOMETHING ABOUT CALCIUM DEFICIENCY IN PREGNANT HORSES??

SHE DOES HAVE A SLIGHT TREMOR AT TIMES 

 

SHE IS BIG--- BUT I HAVE SEEN  PREGO'S AS BIG BEFORE WITHOUT THIS.

 

GEORGE IS OUT OF STATE AND WILL  READ THIS (I HOPE)

BRINGING HER TO YOUR OFFICE IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE --- BUT NEARLY SO.

 

SHE LOOKS FINE-- DRANK ALOT OF WATER LAST NIGHT  ?7 CUPS?  ALOT...AND ATE 1/4 CAN OF FOOD WITH HER PILLS.

 

TOWEL UNDER HER RUMP IOS DRY 

 

I COULD DRAW BLOOD AND TAKE IT  EASIER--- I HAVE SOME OLD PURPLE TOP VIALS IF THAT WOULD WORK--- OR GO GET WHATEVER.

 

THIS MORNING TEMPO 101.2   LAST NIGHT  102.0

 

SHE IS ON AMOXICILLIN  500MG---- 2 PILLS ---TWICE A DAY

 

HAD A SWOLLEN FOOT  BUT IT IS MUCH LESS SO NOW

I CAN'T TELL IF SHE WOULD PUT WEIGHT ON IT... SHE WON'T MAKE THE EFFORE TO STAND

 

 

OTHERWISE LOOKS PERFECTLY NORMAL-- EXCEPT  FLAT

 

THAT IS IT FOR THIS DAY... I HAVE TO GO OBSERVE OLIVE

 

THIS IS BAD