I'm so sorry to hear your news. Your beautifully worded post has brought more than a tear to my eye. You did all you could for your gorgeous girl and I'm sure you'll see her again one day. It's a good thing that you are keeping one of her little girls. Lots of hugs, we are thinking of you in this sad time, Annie & Badger x

Oh, Lord, I am so sorry to read this news. You must be grieving beyond words. I am happy you have decided to keep a puppy.
I have some advice though. Make sure the puppies get some BeneBac or acidophilus as their little GI tracts are having to digest foreign materials. The other thing is to have your vet show you how to tube feed in case you notice one or two babies are faltering a bit and are not drinking from the bottle as well as they shoud. Tube-feeding has saved many babies in such cases and although it looks scary, it really is not after you are shown how to do it and then demonstrated back to the instructor that you can do it.. You can feed faster and it allows less time between feeding to burp each baby.
We are all here for you and our prayers are with you and the wee ones and all who are responsible for their care..
Oh, and don't forget to change those wee diapers...Just kidding..

Oh Linda...
 

Oh how sad and beautiful at the same time! That picture just broke my heart! She looks so beautiful and peaceful! I can feel how much you loved her! Sleep in peace sweet Reggie!

Yes, Reggie was Alphy's mommy and he looks like her except the hair on her head was more tan than his. He's just as loveable as she was.

Left: mama Reggie
Right: son Alphy

Thank you so much for the advise. I've bottle fed before supplementing smallest newborns and Bo from the time he was 2 weeks old and he never did nurse after that. But, not five at a time. I'm sleeping on the couch, setting my cell phone to ring during the night. Besides that, their little squeaking wakes me up so I know they are getting hungry. Last night I put Sissy in with them for comfort. She nestled right in and actually started to growl at the other dogs, as if those were HER babies. My eyeballs feel like they're going to pop out of my head.

Wee diapers? What a great idea..........where can I find them??????? hehehe

I read every post several times a day, through tears. But find it very comforting. You all have been great.

Last night our daughter brought the grandkids over after Korey's baseball practice. I was pretty numb by then. Poor Emilee, who will be 13 in May has inherited my Dr. Doolittle syndrome, she cried and cried. Korey was trying to be the tough guy at 10 but his eyes kept watering. I had her laying in our family room and the other dogs also paid their respects. It was very interesting and very sad to watch them say their goodbyes.

Letter from Reggie
 

I told you I would type the letter I sent to Gail a week after we got Reggie. It's a real tear jerker, at least it was for Gail. She still has the letter. Reggie was Gail's first born. Gail wouldn't let just anyone have them. She kept 2 of the puppies, one went to a family member and Reggie came to me. Richard and Gail were coming north for his daughter's wedding that happened to be about 3 hours from here. We drove over to see them. The temp was nearly 100 degrees during their drive north. Gail and I had it all pre-planned that I would bring Reggie home but my husband didn't know this. We already had one dog, Cyrus, a big black Chow. Needless to say, when we went to leave, Gail started crying like crazy. Richard is no longer in the picture and Gail has remarried to a wonderful guy, Trampas.

This is as best as I can remember......

Dear Mommy Gail,
I was scared when you put me in that pretty red car without a top and you kept crying. I was so scared and didn't want to leave you. I was so afraid I wouldn't see you again. I was afraid I was going to be in the car for a LONG time again and without you. I'm so scared! I want to come home with you!

The blond lady held me on her lap so I wouldn't be so scared. She rubs my belly just like you do. That feels so good. I don't think the guy with hair on his chin talks much, he was very quiet for a long time. Then finally, he asked the blond lady what's my name. She told him "Reggie." He said, so you got a boy? That's a boy's name. She told him no it wasn't that I was named after Richard and Gail, R & G, Reggie. So it's a girl, what's Cyrus (our Chow) going to do? Mommy Gail, what's a Cyrus? The blond lady said he's either going to love her or eat her. EAT ME? Oh No, I want to come home NOW!

They guy with the hair on his chin just kept driving the pretty red car without a top. My hair was blowing everywhere. I sure liked that. He didn't say much. I don't think he likes me!

We finally stopped and the blond lady put me on some green stuff. It tickled my toes but I was a good girl and did a weewee. I thought we got into the wrong car, this one had a top on it. They guy with the hair on his chin told the blond lady, Linda, that's her name, that she could drive. hehe, I guess he just wanted to hold me. He started rubbing my belly. I think he likes me. We kept driving and driving. I didn't think we were ever going to stop. Finally we did and they took me in a house. I was so excited, I thought I was going to be with you again and went running in and jumped up on a lap. It wasn't you, it was a pretty lady with white hair. I just met Grandma. She rubbed my belly and told me how pretty I was! Am I pretty? We weren't there very long when the guy with the hair on his chin told Linda let's go and we got in the pretty red car again. Oh NO! Not again! But we weren't in it very long when we stopped again. They started talking about "Cyrus" again. I'm so scared he's going to eat me!

Guess what, Cyrus is just like me only MUCH MUCH BIGGER! He kept licking my face and slobbering all over me and Linda. I guess that means he's not going to eat me. Linda told Gary, that's the guy with the hair on his chin, that everything was going to be fine. Then I met a another new friend, she looked sort of like me but she doesn't talk the same and she has a really long tail. What's a kitty? I think we're getting to be good friends. I think I'm going to like it here. Linda and Gary's taking very good care of me. I have MY OWN food dish but I like kitty's food and Cyrus let's me eat out of his dish too.

Mommy Gail, I miss you and Mommy Demi, Miram, Megan and Boomer so much. Tell them I miss them. I'm sad because I miss you but I'm not scared anymore because I do like it here. Linda said someday she would take me to see you. I can't wait to see you again to tell you all about my new home and all the friends I've made. Please don't cry anymore, Linda and Gary are taking real good care of me and love me just as much as you do.

Love
Reggie

It made me cry to hear this. I know I should never come here as it just breaks my heart. How very sad for you all she was such a precious little one.

Prayers for her and you,

Sue

Linda, the letter from Reggie was so sweet. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Oh Linda, I am so sorry for your loss.I am typing through misty watery eyes after reading the letter form Reggie. It is so sweet. I know you loved her dearly and your heart must still be aching. You have a wonderful legacy of hers there to take care of, and it is wonderful that you will be keeping a puppy. My thoughts and prayers are with you, and please know that we are all here to support you and lend a shoulder to cry on. God bless.

I think Angel's Baby is very appropriate for her! :D :littleang
I think it honors both her and the baby girl :aimeeyork

I am so sorry for your loss. :( Sending big hugs your way. Thank you for sharing her story with us.

I am so so sorry for your loss. I am setting her with tears after reading the letter from Reggie. Hugs your way.

Letter to Mommy Gail
 

Reggie\'s little brother, Boomer, weighed only 2.5 pounds full grown. Before he was 2, he was bitten by or what ever poisonous frogs do. Her sister also got it but she was much bigger and stronger and was able to fight off the poison. Boomer didn\'t make it. Gail was so very devastated. She had to care from him at birth as he only weighed 1 ounce and actually breathed life into him. He was so darn cute. Our little Dinky looks very similar but his coloring is different. This is Reggie\'s last letter to her Mommy Gail..................

April 4, 2006

Dear Mommy Gail,
This is the last letter I will be able to write to you before I get my wings. I don’t know why that God needs me right now. I have five baby girls to take care of. But, when God calls, you have to go. Mommy Linda is trying to be strong and I know she\'s is going to take very good care of my babies, just as you took very good care of little Boomer and me. I can’t wait to see them grow up big and strong. I know that one of my girls will be staying with Linda and Gary cause they are so sad that I had to go so soon. So am I because I will miss all of you. But please don’t cry. I guess my little brother needs his big sister to watch over him. Don’t worry, I’ll take very good care of him.

I’ve loved and been loved. I’ve had a good life and I’ve always been a good mommy. You would be proud of me. Give my Mommy Demi and my sis a big hug for me. I had hoped to see you again before I had to go but I guess God has other plans for me. I hope he doesn\'t need you soon, but when he does, Boomer and I will be waiting for you.

Love Always and Forever
Your first born,
Reggie

I\'m so sorry for your loss. Good luck nursing those pretty baby girls.