Changes, Puppies, and a Butterfly

Welcome September!

Let's wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen

September is usually a wonderful month in it's own right!  Our daughter was not only born in September but she also was married this month.  In fact, there are two estimated due dates for Holly Beth and each one of them is on one of her special days! My lifelong friend who I have known since playpen days (no kidding) has her birthday this month too.  There's also a significant change taking place in our life this week as our son and his entire family (including our little great-grandchildren) are all moving. They are heading South, about 15 hours away.  So yeah, I am having a very hard time with this as is John. Please pray for us both. And pray for their family as they travel and settle into whatever new life God has purposed for them. 

We celebrated our great-granddaughter's first birthday this past weekend with a very special birthday party. I made her a Raggedy Ann doll, a true labor of love.  Then last week we met our great-grandson for the first time when we had our granddaughter and her husband for a very nice dinner.  He is going on 3 weeks old already! What a cute little boy he is.  I'm going to miss them all terribly. 

Thankfully our daughter and family are not going anywhere at this point in time and we do enjoy our time with them so much. Recently our youngest grandson found a caterpillar when at the field with grampa.  He brought it home after grampa made a house for it including the milkweed leaves it was found on.  Every day or so I'd get a text message with the most recent picture of the caterpillar and it wasn't long before it started to spin its cocoon.  I enjoyed tracking the entire metamorphosis including when it turned black.  And just as suddenly as it was black, the cocoon began to be transparent and the wings could be seen.  Then the message that a monarch butterfly has emerged!  Today I received a video of our grandson opening the container, gently lifting the beautiful butterfly out and placing it on the branch of a Rose of Sharon tree.  As I watched the butterfly spread it's wing open wide, I was reminded that change is a part of life. 

Speaking of changes, Holly Beth's photo clearly shows the physical changes that her body is undergoing.  She is clearly uncomfortable. She's a chow hound which is good for her and her puppies.  I'm gathering all of our whelping supplies and the transition of my grooming studio to puppy room is well under way.  She is now 7 weeks along and pups are due in just about 2 weeks! I'll use our stethescope to see if I can hear their heartbeats.  John and I both have felt the puppies move which is always so wonderful to experience.  We have an appointment for x-rays a few days before her due date.  This will be very helpful as she whelps her puppies.  We will know how many to expect. The hair on Holly's belly has started to come out.  This will continue and eventually her tummy will be bare.  She loves gentle belly and back rubs right now. Holly is still energetic and active of course but we have to really supervise that activity.  She reminds me a lot of her mother Treasure right now.  We both miss her a lot and I do believe Holly especially is feeling her absence.  Treasure stayed near Holly Beth when puppies were on the way and it seemed to comfort her. They were always close. Holly is stuck with John and me and the rest of her canine family.

I have ordered Calsorb for Holly and will also be stocking up on ice cream, yogurt, and making 'nursing mother's pudding'.  Calcium plays an important role when whelping starts and pups begin to arrive. A little bit is given to the mother once the first pup arrives and in between each one.  It helps with the contractions and to me it is safer than giving oxytocin which causes contractions. That can be dangerous if there is a poorly positioned puppy or other issue.  A natural form of oxytocin is released when a newborn puppy begins to nurse on it's mother. Holly has very strong natural maternal instincts and I've seen her push a puppy up to nurse with the umbilical cord still attached! 

Okay dear ones, I am wiped out emotionally tonight. And if I'm going to be any help to Holly in these remaining days leading up to the puppies being born I need to get my act together! Stay tuned!

Take care and God bless, and as always thank you for your interest in All Things Brittany!

John, Ann, & our canine crew