One of the great things about having a blog is that you can put anything you want to on it. If your friend who is taking care of your puppies is gracious enough to send you a whole bunch of pictures, you can put them up and your other friends in Washington and Wisconsin can have every opportunity to see the next great addition to their lives. Keep 'em coming.

From Tammie:

"Don't laugh.

"I think Sidney will like these.

"I went to the grocery store today, now Chris has something else to eat, besides goats milk and yogurt. I got these pacifiers. I stuck them in the holes of the basket and they actually used them...... I also got them little fuzzy toys and Fionn began to "play" with his. They got a little time in the sun. They took a long nap after all the excitement. OK, you can laugh."

Frankly, I should have told her. Laura Ann and I have used pacifiers in the past.

Four more pictures of the pups. These are going to be the most documented pups on the planet, AND I LOVE IT! :)

Tammie calls this cuddle time! She also said that these were the strongest pups she has cared for and from her, that is a strong compliment. Just don't drop them! Since both pups have homes, I am going to take down the link to the 'Puppy Page'. If for some reason someone needs it it can be found HERE.

The Babies continue to kick butt. Tammie reports that Fionn is really starting to shine. She also points out that they are holding hands.

To answer the question of why they have been separated, the short answer would be because Tammie discovered Heather with a wet head. The long explanation is that puppies suck, literally. If they can't nurse their mother, then they will nurse whatever is available. If the only thing available is their siblings, that is what they suck. Their primary targets become their sibling's genitals, noses and ear buds. This leads to tremendous hygiene problems (infections) and even physical issues (noses literally sucked off). The sad part is that pups are picked up from even the best Mastiff mothers (like sweet Morrigan). That means that almost all mastiff pups grow up spending a lot of time alone until they reach four weeks old and the suckling instinct has disappeared. I warned Tammie about it and so when she found Heather with a wet head, she knew what it was and she had no choice but to separate them. It seems that I usually get to about a week old before it happens but these two seem to be very well developed, very vigorous and just started early. They just got to the separation point very quickly.

And now, without further ado,

OH MY! KEENA IS GORGEOUS!

Staci, you have been holding out on us! Guys, I don't even know what to say. Damn Pyometra!

Then there is Gizmo. I told you he was aptly named! And yes, Bubba does like it under the covers.

Both of the babies have homes and both will be going to folks who already have a mastiff. Bonnie Heather is of course going to Heather (Tug's mom) in (think with an accent!) Wisconsin. I hope she likes cheese! Mac will be going to Staci (Keena's mom) in Washington. Mac is already named and will be called Finn (she may spell it Fionn). Regardless, I can't tell you how happy this makes me. To know that the babies are going to such great homes really brightens my day.

Now, just so that we don't forget those that brought us, I have been forgetting to scan this in for a couple MONTHS! Today I finally got it done. This is the wonderful Christmas card I got from Satch. His mom Sandy may have been slightly involved. Satch has a rough life!

I tell ya what, as long as Tammie keeps sending pictures, I'll keep posting them! We start with the beautiful Sidney holding a sleepy Fionn.

This picture is to make Heather jealous. I got a dachshund and a mastiff too! Their relative sizes are just temporarily inverted. Bubba is awesome. He is ten feet tall and bulletproof, in his mind. Great spirit and a sweet boy.

Tammie's niece Catie says, "They're just like Baby Babies." I thought the pink and blue blankies were a nice touch. The poodle is a little bundle of energy named Olivia, Livvy for short. I wish we had a shot of Gizmo, the Affenpinscher. Lets just say he is appropriately named!

I warned her! She is going to get the reputation of "The Crazy Dog Collector Lady"! Not only does Catie have a litter on the ground, she snuck off to the Midwest and corralled three more Mastiff babies! Aimee, Catie's daughter, is keeping a boy but Catie has brought home two apricot girls. Jasmine and Rose. Big Daddy Mitch is a saint!

Jasmine

Rosee

Jasmine AND Rose

Rose

Congrats Catie! I hope the bigger home search works out for you!

Three cheers for Tammie! She sent more pictures! She tells me that they are both vigorous and that they have figured out the whole nursing thing. She says that Heather is especially active and that they already try to roam. :)

I received an email request asking what the babies are eating since Roxie isn't nursing them. Well, I'll tell ya'. It isn't something that you buy powdered! One can of goat's milk and another can of water with a tablespoon of Karo syrup and a tablespoon of plain yogurt. Once a day add liquid pediatric vitamins to a bottle.

Mac has a big 'ol head!

And it will be nice if their masks stay this dark!

Those skinny pups I was talking about have been replaced with these fat little creatures! I am still very impressed with their length of body. Tammie has been impressed with the quantity that they eat (and pee). She ain't seen nothin' yet :) For 36 hours old they look very mature.

Here Tammie is showing off her artistic side. Beautiful babies!

Okay, some may not want to see this but I convinced Sid to take a picture while Roxie's Caesarian was occurring. What is in the picture is Roxie's left uterian horn. What is in the horn is ONE whole puppy. Bonnie Heather is just inside that there organ! Anyway, the picture is HERE.

They're here! Roxie delivered her pups last night. Lets begin at the beginning...

I took Roxie in Monday just to be safe. It was a little early, day 59, but you just want to be careful. Dr. Matt McCord examined her and declared her close but not quite ready. Great. I took Roxie home, gave her a bath, and she took up residence in James and Sidney's bathroom. I woke early yesterday morning and went straight to her. She was still asleep. I woke her up and she got up SO slowly. Down the steps and out the door to pee. I noticed that she had not eaten since the day before. A CLUE! Her temp was still over 100 degrees so all indicators are not towards puppy making yet.

The next time I checked on her was at 11:30. She was panting although I had turned the temperature down to 65. The kids and I were cold but still Roxie pants. A CLUE! We must be getting closer but her temp is still up and I can't feel anything in the birth canal. Nothing nasty has come out of her rear yet. Out to pee and then straight back into the bathroom.

I checked her again around 4:30. Sidney and I were on our way to watch James wrestle in Heard County and we stopped in as we drove by. She was in pretty much the same shape as when I left her after lunch except that she didn't want to go outside at all. She still had eaten anything. I was beginning to get concerned but I saw no reason to panic.

We got home just before 7:00. Rush in to check on Roxie. What's that smell? Surely she hasn't pooped in the house! Nope, but she has started passing the green sticky icky stuff that comes with babies. Time for babies! I called the vet's after hours number knowing that they had just left. Sorry! I called Tammie because she wanted to help and because the babies wold be going home with her. Sidney and I loaded Roxie up and started towards the clinic. Dr. Racelis called about 7:15 and said he was on his way. Sidney, Roxie and I got there about twenty minutes before everyone else because we were pretty much there when I spoke to Robert. Besides the afore mentioned folks, Catherine Kiker, her daughter in law, and Mandy Bailey were there.

Roxie was wonderful. Doc had me put her on a table and she was calm and relaxed as the table struggled as he raised it up as far as it would go. She weighed in down a little from Monday at 171. He gave her a half dose of a sedative and we transfered her first to a gurney and then to the operating table. She was still awake as she was gassed down. and finally turned onto her back and tied to the table.

Without going into gory detail, the surgery went well. Sidney took a picture with her phone of Roxie's uterus as it was on top of her. When I saw it I thought it was at least two but maybe three pups. It turned out to be one, the girl! The pups are SO long. They aren't fat at all and were very lean and strong looking. The right horn didn't have any pups. The girl pup was high in the left horn while the boy was very low in the left horn down where the horns meet. Doc worked for a considerable amount of time to get the boy pup out. His feet were in the birth canal while his head was in the right horn and his body was in the left. She was trying to birth that baby sideways! Without the Caesarian, we would have lost them all!

Mandy took the first baby and did magic on her. She was breathing on her own almost immediately and was pissed off and voicing her opinion very soon after. The boy took a while to get out and we were a little concerned about him at first because he had so much puppy fecal matter surrounding him, BUT his tongue was bright pink and Catherine soon had him angry and vocal too. Sidney said that they shook them to hard. I laughed and told her they did great!

Roxie was sewn up, bathed and placed in a run. She was waking up as soon as she hit the floor. She does have mastitus in her breasts and we decided that it was not in the pups best interest to let them nurse her. We loaded everyone up and drove home. We were back AND SETTLED before 10:00! I cannot over emphasize how great a job the fine folks at Bowdon Animal Clinic did.

But we aren't through. Tammie has sent me two emails already this morning and one of them included pictures!

MAC

HEATHER

HEATHER

Heather AND Mac :)

...and what Tammie has written...

It's a puppies life and it started tonight.
I am "calling" them Heather and Mac.
Heather is ravenous! Mac ate, pooped,
peed and back to sleep.
Chris and I have swapped sides of the bed,
now I get to sleep on the side with the alarm.
I do not think sleep will come tonight, I am to excited!!!!
They are both quite now for the first time since their birth.
Sugar my 10 year old Doxie (that had multiple litters in a
past life) wants to get to them so bad she can't stand it.
I think they have already grown!

Decisions, decision.......
Who knew my night would be filled with mystery......
Which nipple is best for Mac, which for Heather.......
How many seconds do I use to warm the formula?
The worst part was my poor doggies wondering why mom keeps
getting up all night, but we made it.
They are active and strong, Heather especially.
They are content for now. I am having my coffee.
I hope momma Roxie is feeling better.....she did GOOD!

I have a theory. Roxie is notorious for her short durations between heats. I think her ovaries are out of whack. I think that her left ovary drops eggs and then three months later her right side drops and back and forth. This explains her frequent cycles and why only one horn had babies. Maybe the pregnancy will get her back on track.

MORE PICTURES!!!!!

A very pregnant Roxie. I weigh 205 pounds.

Roxie has chosen her nesting/birthing site. She is convinced that James and Sidney's bathroom is the best place in the world. She pretty much refuses to come out. I can't close the door because I am afraid she will get to hot so, I drag a crate in front of the door to block her in. Her temp dipped to 99.7 Sunday but has been above 100 ever since. Today is day 60 and she could go at anytime. I would like for her to make it until tomorrow. She hasn't had any discharge but she is refusing to eat. She is very uncomfortable. It won't be long. We are going to have puppies!

When we took Roxie to the vet on Monday, she was so good. She really hates to go to the vet but she behaved herself. Lots of folks made a fuss over her and said how gorgeous she was. Yeah, she was glowing. Its always fun to watch foks reactions when they realize that a giant is standing behind them or they walk through a door and take a step back while their jaws drop. Its a guilty pleasure.

We did take some pictures a couple days ago. I'll try and remember to get them out of the camera when I go home for lunch and to check on the Momma2B.

In other news, Trojan and Lilly will be competing at the Atlanta shows this weekend. The wrestling and dog show gods were kind and aren't conflicting. Jennifer will handle Lilly while I hope to pass Trojan onto Norlee.

Rex is pitiful. He sits at the fence and stares at the front door. He knows that Roxie is in there and he misses her. She'll be back to him in a few days.

We have the first pictures of young Daniel Asher Clark!

Mother, son and Granny are doing fine. If you can find a picture where Susie looks genuinely happier, I would like to see it!

Heather couldn't stand it any more so she woke Tug up, pried his eyelids open with a crow bar and took a picture. The boy looks so much like his momma (Morrigan not Heather) its scary.

In case you haven't noticed, If you send me pictures, I tend to publish them!

Heather offers these shots up as proof that Tug has eyes. Well, if you can see his eyes I'm happy for you! I think he is sleep walking.

Then of course she included this picture:

A very active household indeed!

Rex's hip score:

VET DAY! Roxie girl made her much dreaded trip to the vet this afternoon. When I took off her nylon collar and reached for the choker, she turned tail and trotted back to the gate! She knew she was going somewhere and that it was somewhere she didn't want to go! I am constantly amazed how some folks believe that Mastiffs aren't intelligent. Most of my best friends are mastiffs and I find them wonderful conversationalists and delightfully insightful. Regardless, Jim was not to be denied and Roxie girl was loaded into the back of my car for the torturous 5 mile drive to the vet's office.

Once there, we dutifully stood and were admired for our size and beauty. Roxie was admired too. I spoke to our friend, Dr. Robert Racelis, and we decided that since we cared more about a confirmation of pregnancy than an actual count of babies an unobtrusive ultrasound on the floor was probably a safer bet than trying to wrestle 173 pounds of pregnant, feisty Roxie dog onto an all to small x-ray table and then trying to convince her to hold still.

I still had to convince Roxie to at least lay on one side. She refused to sit so I had to use my devastatingly effective doggie wrestling techniques against her. Reach across and pull left rear forward and up, apply a little body weight, reach forward and pull left front foot back and up, and doetsy-doe. No problem. Control the head and let the good doctor do his thing. Immediately we see the shadows from a tiny rib cage and spine. COOL! We found four heart beats in the left horn and said that was good enough. Pregnancy confirmed!

I did go ahead and get some Cephalexin for her. She has already developed mastitus in the two rearmost right side teats. I will try and clear it up before the pups get here but I am not optimistic about her chances of successfully nursing the pups. That is ok. We can handle it.

Back in the car and back home to her Rex. She licked the side of my head the whole way back. I now have a bald spot. I should have probably taken a shower but I was late getting back to work. They're used to seeing me slobbered up anyway.

Anyway, here is a picture of a much abused Gorilla in Heather's floor:

(notice that Tug's eyes are closed as usual.)

And a camera phone VIDEO of Rex barking at and chasing his food bowl. (You need Quicktime to view the video.)

Congratulations Susie! Susie's daughter Britney has given Susie her first grandson! His name is Daniel Asher Clark, he weighed 8 pounds and is 22 inches long. Susie is slightly excited!

I also received Rex's hip score from OFA yesterday. He got a 'Good'! I never doubted him but, it is always nice to have it confirmed.

Have anyone else noticed that in most of the pictures Heather sends me, Tug is asleep?

Boudi got her CHIC certificate! This is a big deal. Boudi has passed her health testing with Flying colors. She is also the third from the Morrigan/Ford breedings to have her hip's and elbows pass. Congratulations Catie and Boudi.

Speaking of Catie, here is a picture of her Reba:

Okay, I know, more Tug Mini Pictures but they really are cute. I like the Mini Sweater.