ATB: Treasure - One Week And Counting

Wanting to note the yellow gardener pad here. John bought that me the other day to make it easier when I am kneeling on the floor, leaning over and into the whelping box. I thought that was thoughtful!

 

We started to take Treasure's temperature now and will be watching each reading very closely.  The average temperature for a dog is 100.1 - 101.1 with of course some fluctuation. As the day of whelping approaches hers will eventually drop below 100 and remain there. When you hear us talking about the temperature drop it's because we know things are about to 'happen' and puppies cometh! Although there is some consistency and predictability as to what John and I expect to occur over the next week nothing is ever absolute.  We take nothing for granted and are prepared well in advance.  

 

They talk about man caves. Well, I have a puppy cave.  More and more breeders are finding the value in having a puppy room and we are among them. It's nothing fancy schmancy, but it is clean, warm, cozy, and well equipped with a couch, a cot, the woodstove, t.v., CD player, small library, whelping box, dog bed, phone, and more. A good way to describe this period is to call it hunkering down, or to settle down into an area for an extended period.

 

Most of our Christmas shopping is finished.  Our celebration of the birth of Jesus is very simple and we try to avoid the hustle and bustle of the commercialism which brings with it a multitude of stress.  As the years pass by we have learned to be content with less 'things' and have learned ourselves what gifts are best enjoyed by our family. They are really quite simple. Our grandchildren are always happy on Christmas morning with the many toys and gifts they find under their own Christmas tree. It's been challenging over the years to shop for them all, and to know what it is that they would really like.  We finally figured out the gifts that they most looked forward to and seemed to enjoy the most (believe it or not) where the slippers and pajamas they found underneath gramie and grampas tree on Christmas Day when we all gathered for dinner together.  The grandchildren, who sometimes arrived proudly wearing a new Christmas outfit, all don their little elf hats which I made for them years ago. I wonder this year if our teenage granddaughter will still find this fun or if she is too grown up for it!  Knowing her, I imagine she'll be the biggest kid of all. They all play Santa's helpers and pass each gift out which we all in turn open in a frenzy - it's totally unorganized and chaotic but it's how we do it!  Following this, we sit down to dinner to enjoy a meal prepared by Chef John.  As the day goes on, the Christmas music plays, games are enjoyed and eventually the grandchildren all go change out of their clothes and put on their new pajamas. It's sort of a late afternoon pajama party really. When it's time for them to go home, hugs and kisses are passed out one more time as they head home.  This is of course very convenient for the younger ones because if they should fall asleep on the way home - they are already to tuck into bed, pajamas and all! 

 

We'll be bringing a tree home soon, and I will set the nativity set up which I brought back from Bethlehem in 2000. Actually, I brought a set home for each of our children and it puts a smile on my face to see it displayed in their homes now with families of their own. I no longer have the energy to put up a lot of decorations but there was a time when every nook and cranny of our home was decorated for Christmas. 

 

Knowing that the Christmas shopping is under control, as well as our plans with family and friends truly brings a sense of peace to my mind at a time when it's important to focus upon Treasure and her soon coming pups.  She's accepted not running with the rest of the dogs although she does get her share of exercise. Just not with the entire crew.  She has also accepted that when they are outdoors running without her she cannot stand in the window and bark her head off at them.  No, I have kept her slip lead on Treasure and made her stay by my side sitting or lying down.  She doesn't need to get all worked up.

 

We are wondering about the weather in the next week as it has seemed that winter snowstorms tend to trigger the whelping process for some reason. We have whelped more than one litter in the middle of a blizzard which only lends to the coziness and the hunkering down of being here in the puppy cave.

 

I have found a particular song which is on a CD I made and play just for times like this.  It's not an especially 'spiritual' song nor Christmas music  but the melody is reflective and the words speak to my heart as we head into this, the final week prior to Hemi and Treasure's pups being born. It is done by "SECRET GARDEN".  I'll close this blog with the lyrics which seem very, very appropriate for the "ALL THINGS HOPED FOR". 

 

"The Dream"

We sailed out in the morning
As the winter turns to spring
Undestined and unknowing
Of what tomorrow brings
Towards the blue horizon
Leaving all we have behind
Our yearning hearts will guide us to find

A dream we carry with us
And the hopes that we hold
As we rise from the ash into gold
We reach for the impossible
As unreal it may seem
Still we sail 'cross the ocean
And follow the dream

The moon and stars above us
Will lead us to the shore
My heart will be my compass
And you will be my north
We forecast stormy weather
And pro-and-con our moves
But what have we achieved ...

A dream we carry with us
And the hopes that we hold
As we rise from the ash into gold
We reach for the impossible
As unreal it may seem
We will sail 'cross the ocean
And capture the dream

One day arriving
Behind the far blue
Where you'll find me waiting
And I will find you too

A dream we carry with us
And the hopes that we hold
As we rise from the ash into gold
We reach for the impossible
As unreal it may seem
We will sail 'cross the ocean
And become the dream 

Take care and God bless you always.  John and Ann, and All Things Brittany