Well then, maybe after this year you can start racking up the PTO hours.
Obviously, I'm kind of a PTO hoarder.:) Even with as many as I have, I hate to use any. It's kind of nice to think that I could take one day off in a two week pay period & still not lose any PTO time because of the 8 hours I gain.:D

A stethoscope is one thing I have from when I was a volunteer EMT. I'm anxious to see (when the time comes) if I will be able to hear puppy heartbeats! :D

I can't remember where I ordered my kit from (it also has a blood pressure cuff)

I bought mine about 4 years ago. I can't remember where but I bought it online. Sorry!!!

:) That's ok.. I actually work for a hospital ( i'm a computer programmer not a nurse) so maybe I can ask around here and see if I can find a place to purchase it from.

I look at my gal's pregnacy like my own. I loved feeling all 5 of my kids born well take that back the first one was hell, but the after feeling can never be taken away. When I see my girls having their puppies it puts me in that loving place I was in when I had my own. I do a lot of compairing of my own pregnacies to my girls. Everyone is different, ultrasounds are just an estmate never nothing for sure, etc. I was told my baby was going to be about 7 to 8 pds when he was 9.5 big difference now when it comes to puppies the amount they gain in the last few says can very just like babies. So I keep these things in mind. I am not sure if others that have kids do the same or not. but once I was in trouble in birth and I could not feel it but I could sence it around me and dogs are the same. I have been lucky I know with my kids and I have also been lucky or I should say blessed for all my babies and litters they have all gone well. I pray they continue going well, but I dont think that an xray would tell me just like an utrasound for a child might not tell us things. Everyone has a choice and this is how I feel.I dont even like knowing the sex of my babies. We hope and pray for the best either way. I have 5 kids and 5 yorkies and love , enjoy them all.
Just thought I would shair my thoughts on I guess dog pregnacy.
CHrisitna

Well I think it's getting close to time. Diva is sad right now, wanting to just be in my lap. She refuses to leave her whelping basket, when in the past few days she met me at the door when I opened it. (I'm still bringing her to work with me and hiding her in my bathroom so I can check on her constantly). I'm so excited.

I was thinking about this last night and thought I'd ask.. are the puppies usually evenly distributed between the two horns of the uterus? Or is it common for a dog to have 2 in one horn and none in the other? Or 3 in one horn, 1 in the other..? IF Roxie was to have two, they'd both be in the same horn. Her left side is completely empty (just bloated I guess, because it is just as big as the right side) but the vet said he couldn't even feel that horn. Of course this is still just wishful thinking :P I've decided against the 2nd xray so I could save that money for other things like docking and dews.

Rose, I can't wait for Halle's xray tomorrow! Be sure to take some good pics of the xray. I wish I had gotten better quality pics on Roxie's. I am keeping my fingers crossed for two pups for Halle!

RoxysMomma, you should post some pics of your week old litter :) I'm jealous of your PTO! I do not work, but I have class twice a week. It's usually 4 times a week but I only took one class this semester so I'd be home with Roxie as much as possible. I have nobody to watch her and the puppy while I'm gone, but it is only for about 4-5 hours, twice a week so I am hoping it will be ok.

Go Diva!! I hope it's whelping time :D Maybe she will go tonight, when she's at home. Can't wait to see pics!

Just curious, how can you tell if your female is carrying a singleton? What are the signs does she still get really big like she would if she was having more than one pup?

I have only ever had large litters 6 pups each time from Mia, and for Chloe this is her first litter. So having a small litter is new to me.

Thanks
Nikki

Oh my goodness, no........they don't get nearly as big. I've read some stories where they didn't even know the female was PG for sure til she had the pup!
I've had one other litter before (a litter of 4), and let's just say I enjoyed that pregnancy so much more. I've been fretting over this one since day one,wondering if she was or not; partially because I've wanted it for so long. I "know" there is probably a singleton because that is all that we saw on an ultrasound done around day 30-ish, though they said there could be more. Even having seen it, I've still been having doubts until earlier this week. Her belly didn't convincingly "show" until the beginning of the 7th week and even with that I still wasn't convinced til I felt the puppy move. That was late last week, and I still wondered until early this week if I really felt it. I'm convinced now that there's definitely something moving in Halle's belly. Our x-ray to unquestionably prove it to me is tomorrow; THEN maybe :rolleyes: I can be a true believer, relax, & enjoy til whelping time.

Oh I will definitely be taking a picture or two; the quality of them depends somewhat on the quality of the x-ray. But you can be sure there WILL be pictures! :)

Is it xray time already??!! Wow! Time is flying :p What day is she on???

Halle is 56 days now, right? Roxie is 58. I've heard of pups born on day 57 :O so I'm definitely watching Roxie like a hawk.

How many of you use day 63 as the due date? That's what I've been reading, but I noticed that some use 65..

I use day 61 as a guideline. I have had many females deliver on days 59-61. I watch them like a hawk starting on day 58.

My Roxy had her puppies on day 61, so keep an eye out!

I use 63 BUT really the 63 day is from ovulation, not from breeding time. So I just use it as a gauge.

Is today x-ray day Rose?? I'm excited for you!! Can't wait!! :D

No puppies yet, but today is day 60 for Diva. (She delivered on day 60 last time). She still refuses to leave her whelping bed unless I feed her tempting food by hand. She also has a clear discharge this morning, so I think it's very close to puppy time. Unfortunately last night my 13 year old daughter came to me with a fever and sore throat. Her tonsils are swollen and very nasty looking, so I have to take her to the doctor today. I have Diva at work with me as usual, so I'm going to have to depend on my assistant to watch her for about 45 mins., while I run my daughter to the doctor. I'm telling ya'll, I'm seriously stressed out this morning. The weekend will not get here fast enough. LOL

Thanks for the responses :) It's day 59 today, eek! I have heard that singleton litters sometimes arrive late, like 65+ days? Since there is only one and the uterus isn't as stretched out, etc.. Is there any truth to this? Sorry for all of the questions..

I'm hoping the puppy makes his/her appearance over the weekend. Saturday or Sunday (day 60+61) would be perfect. Yesterday was the end of my semester at school, but another one starts on Tuesday so I'd like at least a couple days of 24/7 watch on her and the pup. I'm feeling huge movements from this puppy every time I touch Roxie's belly, it's quite an active baby!

Rose, I'm anxiously sitting here, awaiting Halle's xray news! Hehe.

I'm crossing my fingers for a weekend delivery for Diva! And I hope your daughter feels better soon. My 3 little ones just got over a bad cold.. it seems 10 times worse when they're sick in the summer months.

Thanks Roxiehart.

Maybe both of us will be grandmas this weekend. My daughter is on antibiotics now and has to go the ENT doctor next week to schedule surgery to get her tonsils out. She is not a happy camper because she is a cheerleader and may have to miss a game.

Diva is just driving me crazy waiting on these babies to come. She looks miserable too. I can't wait to get home and get to just sit on the couch and hold her.

Ah, that's no fun.. just tell her with the tonsils being out, it could prevent missing many more games in the future!

Are you taking Diva's temp? I'm still having NO luck with taking Roxie's. Her bum seems to be just fine now, so now I know she is just being difficult, rather than being fearful due to pain. My hand is constantly on her belly though and today it's just as fiery hot as ever.

Now where is Rose? I have not been on all day and came here first thing to see if she had an xray :)

We Have "A" Puppy.....................
 

............one....very....large....puppy :eek:

This vet kinda freaked me out!! I think it's how she said it, more than what she said. She came back in the room and said, "Well, we have one.....very....large.....puppy." Where is her bedside manner? You don't come in and just spit it out like that. You say, "Well, Halle is pregnant with one puppy, however it does seem...............etc, etc...." This was not the vet I normally see, and I've got a call in for "my" vet to take a look at the x-rays and let me know what she thinks. Even if she agrees that it is a large puppy, which I'm sure it is cuz they'll both be looking at the same thing, I'm certain that my Dr. "D" will relay the news with better explanations & thoughtfulness. In the meantime, I'm right there with you now Elyse (RoxieHart); wondering whether to try & whelp naturally or schedule a c-section. It's not so much the thought of having the c-section that worries me, but the emergency part of it. I'll surely wait to see what my regular vet thinks.

Anyway, here he/she is.............Halle's beautiful baby!

oh Rose he/she is beautiful!!!!!!

Awww look at the baby! I've been waiting all day! Such a clear x-ray too! :D

Well, I just finished talking to my regular vet and I just knew I'd take the news better from her than the other doctor. She did agree that it is a large puppy, but nixed the idea of a scheduled c-section stating that just a couple of days early of the time the puppy was implanted could mean possible lung problems for the pup, and that it is possible that Halle could deliver without problems & to just pay close attention to how the labor and/or whelp progresses (or not). Whatever the case, I do feel much better having talked with Dr. D. She sounded much more caring about the situation & took the time to listen & answer any questions & concerns I had. I just hope that if we do run into problems, it's during working hours. We all know how THAT usually goes. :rolleyes:

The xray is very clear!

Well...I think "I" would try and let her have the baby , but making sure there is a vet available on hand. Its just so hard to say. Either way its scary. I know with these litters I just had I had 2 that got stuck(2 different litters) but I was able to go in with a finger and move them around a bit to help them out.

I like that "her" head is facing the right way. I am not fond of breach deliverys. I have more breach than I do head first. While its normal for breach, I find the babies are more full of fluids.

Well let us know what you decide Rose and congrats on your little baby!

Whoops I didnt see your post. I'm glad you feel better about it and your letting her go into labor. Whens her due date?

I've never seen such a clear x-ray. I pray that everything goes well. I know about vets, it took me a very long time to get one that I was comfortable with.