Fab Five

Hello!

I am no longer pregnant!  My puppies arrived yesterday morning beginning with Nova making her debut about 4:05. Following Nova were her brothers Ned at 4:42 and Normandy (Norman for short) at 5:55.  After a spot of trouble which was relieved by a hormone boost, Miss Nike arrived at 8:47 and then little Mr. Neon at 10:14.

We are all doing well.  I am a bit sore and a whole lot tired!  Yesterday was an incredibly long day and my pups will be completely dependent upon me for several weeks.  Right now they are blind and deaf as their ears and eyes will remain sealed for two weeks.  What you may not know is that they also cannot yet produce their own body heat or even go potty.  They stay warm by sleeping next to me and by using latent heat and piling upon one another should I be momentarily indisposed.  I feed them, bathe them and even take care of waste management for the next five weeks!  Thankfully I have a brilliant support team! K, B, R and T, I love you guys!  K, I'm sorry I've had to wake you at 3:30 and 4:00 the past two mornings.

Readers, you may be remembering my earlier post telling you the vet said I was carrying eight.  He was correct, but sadly three of the puppies were stillborn.  My support team and I tried very hard to revive them but the pups couldn't be saved.  K and R both stated that they were needed Heaven.

Now enough sadness.  The "fab five" are a joy to be celebrated.  Even at one day old they are starting to develop their personalities:
Nova is a diva.  She knows what she needs and she'd going to go for it.
Ned is determined but has a poor sense of direction.  Poor little dear took forever to find the milk.
Normandy is a fighter.  He was a little weak at birth but pulled through.
Nike is athletic.  She can nurse like a champ from the most amazing positions.
Neon is ingenious.  He may look like the runt but he uses his size to advantage, crawling under and through to get to food.

I will keep up posting their progress.  Now for a power nap!

Nelly

Left to right: Neon, Nova, Nike, Norman (on top) and Ned