It sure is an up and down hill. Last night she had me worried. She seemed to be struggling breathing but then she was fine. She breathes much better with her mouth open but she doesn't know that yet. Her most clear breaths are when she falls to sleep with the bottle in her mouth. Still no luck with the whole eating and drinking on her own thing. I came home for lunch today and she had poo all over her. She still has mushy poo. The other have tiny logs:) She has it even on the top of her head! At what age did you bathe Joker?

What does Joker weigh today? Does he have any special needs as of now?

I think the nutrical is helping with her weight. I'm adding it now to every new bottle I make up.

I took pics last night. I will post them, hopefully tonight.

Pitures finally
 

Well this is Tia. I took them last night :)

SHe's soooooooooooo cute!

Oh My God! She is completely precious and looks like a girl too! Look at those big bright snappy eyes. Her hair looks like white velvet. From the pictures she looks healthy and you would never know the first thing is wrong. How much does she weigh? She looks very little.
I gave Joker a bath around 7 1/2 weeks. I should have gave him one sooner but I was really afraid to chill him. He felt so much better after I bathed him and he didnt mind the blow dry at all. He hates to be brushed though and squeels like a pig and tries to bite you! He doesnt have top teeth in the front, just the canines so its more like a gumming....hee hee. I just weighed him and he weighs 1 b 7 ozs at a lil over 14 weeks old. He loves to go for car rides and loves walking to the barn with us. Its a long walk too but he does great.
He is weaned to dry food now, but I treat him to his canned and milkshake every other day or so.
Is he special needs? No but we are now!!!! We walk with a shuffling gait now anytime he is out. I have a 4 yr old and 2 yr old so I cant let him out all the time which I want to do. But my two yr old is a danger to him. My 4 yr old is like an old pro though and is exceptional with him. He is doing pretty good with potty training too.
SOmetimes I think about placing him but it tugs at my heart just the thought. I imagine him in a child free enviroment with free rein of the house, spoiled rotten. Going on car rides and ruling the roost. He may have started out special needs but now he is just special. I dont even consider him having surgery now because he hasnt problems now, it appears to be purely cosmetic now. THe risks would not be worth surgery to close his cleft lip. Once you get used to it Its really kinda cute;)
Keep me posted on cutie pie Tia!!!

Fighting feeding
 

Did Joker ever fight his feeding. Last night and this morning Tia is fighting it. I get so worried when tis happens! She still isn't takeing milk from the bowl :(

Yes he did fight the formula feedings when i tried to increase them. But he fought very little when introduced the first few minutes to formula, he willing took it, he was so hungry all the time. He let you know when he had enough. I dont think he ever enjoyed the syringe feedings at all, but reluctantly drank them because it was the only food source he had.
Do you see an increase in TIas weight? How much does she weigh? Could she be sneaking dry food now since she is fighting feedings more and more?

Last week she actually lost a little. I started adding Nutrical to her bottle and I think its helping. She's about 12 oz. No I don't think she's touching her hard food. She's very bull headed when she wants to be. I went home for lunch and she ate better. Maybe when she fights, she just isn't hungry???? But gosh, I'd think she'd be starving all the time.

I've seperated her all the way. They just beat the crap out of her. Its like as soon as they see her she's a target. I know she doesn't like to be alone in her area. Sometimes I think she'd rather just get out of her area and be with someone rather than eat. She loves it when I put her on the floor to play. She has a ball. She deffinatly acts way different than the others. She very fast moving, hyper like. The others are fat little blobs :) They are more slow moving and are like, whatever :) When you pick them up, tails wag and they give kisses. She's not like that. I've never seen her tail wag. Is that becasue she's so far behind?

Sunday will be 6 weeks.

OMG, Tia is absolutely the most adorable little baby I think I've ever seen!. She is barely bigger than the chair roller. How could anyone say a special baby should be put down and never given a chance to have the life and love it deserves. Kudos to anyone that devotes so much time and energy to giving that chance to a "not so perfect" baby. Prayers to all of you and your precious little angels. May they have long and happy lives.

Thank you :) I'm trying with all my might :thumbup:

:confused: :confused: So Tia is still fighting the bottle tonight. I don't know what to do!!!!!!!! I tried the syringe. She hates that too. I guess if she gets hungry enough, she'll take it? Am I over reacting? Is just she sooo skinny. The only good feeding today was at lunch. She's sleeping alot tonight. My gosh I'd think she'd be hungry???:confused:

Update
 

She ate a little bit (she fought it again)through the night. At 1am and 4am then this morning at 7:30am I tried and she fought it, so I decided to try the syringe again, this time forcing 4 cc's into her. I felt so bad because that really makes it come out her nose. But she has to eat! Other than that she's acting the same. She doesn't seem sick and I know she's not eating anything else.

What do I do! I'm not calling my vet because I've been on my own with her from day one. All's he has ever said was to keep doing what I'm doing.

I'm so frustrated, upset, and worn out. I just want her well!!!!!!!!:confused:

Another Update
 

I also noticed she hasn't pooped in 2 days. She's acting very normal, nothing has changed there. Her eating is just low. She ate pretty ok at her last feeding but the rest of the day was all forced.

Did joker do this as well? She's come so far, I just don't want her to go downhill.

Her siblings are sleeping right now so I just put her in there with them but she's only happy when I have her out with me. She HATES being in by herself, but I have no other choice. Her siblings are now about triple her size. They are like two of her high. And triple her in weight. (although they aren't eating on their own either and mom doesn't spend very much time with them)

Ohhh I just need some positive reinforcement....very much so!!!

Size difference
 

I just took this. See the difference!!!!

just tried to feed again. No luck. she fights so hard! I just feel like giving up!

Breny,
Im so sorry the last few days have been so discouraging!:( Yes Joker was the same, three times smaller then his brothers. As he got stronger he fought force feedings, thats why I went to the cup of formula. It took a brief time but he responded to lapping on his own. I force fed him until then, but as mentioned earlier he would take the syringe of formula in the first few minutes willingly.
I know you are completely frustrated but dont give up. If she isnt getting enough nourishment I would definitely think your weight would be plummeting and her energy level at a real slow.
Still no interest in canned food? Have you tried mighty dog or lil cesars? These arent the best canned foods i the world but they sure are good for getting puppies to eat for first times.
Are you still consistently offering formula in a cup?
Let me know how she is today.

Keep your head up! your doing a wonderful job!!! You and Jokers mom are saving these puppies, when most people wouln't even have tried. You two have such big hearts. And thank you so much for sticking it out with Tia and Joker. You guys are the best!!!:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Sending hugs to you guys and the babies!:love-hug3 :ghug:

Update
 

Well after last nights post (around midnight) I set my alarm for 3am for her next feeding. Well I ended up sleeping thru it :eek: and didn't wake up until almost 6am! Well, she ate real good then! I took today off of work, layed back down and got up about 10 and fed her again and she did kinda well. Then I just gave her more just now. I have better luck when she falls to sleep with it in her mouth cuz I'll wake her up and she goes into a mad rush of sucking. So thats what I've been trying to do. Could I be trying to feed her too much? Mon - Fri I'm at work. She gets a feeding at 7:30am, 12:30pm, and 5:30pm and then I try to do it every 2-3 hours when I'm home, until I go to work again. She's sooo skinny that I think I need to feed her all the time. What do you think?

Her energy level is still up, but her weight has went down a bit. Oh she pooped this morning. That made me feel better.

No luck with her eating on her own. I keep a tiny dish in with her of hard food and formula. Every now and then I see where to took a couple licks of the formula. You can tell becasue it gets thick when it sits and you can see a tiny lick. I only put a thin layer in the bowl. I haven't tried Might Dog or Ceasers, but I will buy some and try it. (the others aren't even eating yet)

I just need her to eat good and gain weight!!!!! I won't give up....but I will say I had myself a very good cry last night.

Thanks for everything, I appreciate you listening to me and helping me!

I second that!! I've been following you thread because I admire both of you so much.

:D .......Ahhhhhhhhhhhh gosh ladies, you are making us blush!:p
What a nice thing to say......thank you!
Breny is doing a great job isnt she!!!! She needs the encouragement and its so nice to see someone giving it to her. Since you are watching this thread when it doesnt even benefit you...........hummmmmmmmmm I wonder who has the big hearts?.........lol
Breny..............experience speaks for itsself, if she eats better at longer intervals and she doesnt act weak, try it for a day.
Im certainly no expert, but by the time you puppy is zooming around the house, squeeking or talking to you like a munchkin, and you are not having to watch every feeding........you will be the expert!;)
You are doing a wonderful job. Hear the angels singing?:thumbup: :animal-pa
SHe is a beautiful lil puppy and her imperfections make her all the more desirable.
We all are on your team!

I deffinatley need all the help, prayers, and encourgaement I can get! I thank everyone for that. Well, she did eat better today, although she's skin and bones. She's most happy when I let her run loose in the room. I let her do that since she's seperated from her siblings. I tell her she has to pee first on her pad before soming out....she don't always listen though :)

Still not eating. I didn't get the chance to try the other food but I found some puppy pro plan in the cupboard and tried that. She gave it three licks. The soft food makes her sputter real bad and sneeze. But that was all she tried and was finished with that. So its back to the bottle.

Sunday is 6 weeks. I can't beleive how TINY she is. I don't notice it until I look at the others and WOW :eek:

I can't help but smile when me and her mom are on the floor with her, and she chooses me to come to. :) I'd be completely devestated if anything were to go wrong at this point.

I understand you've had a couple Cleft's? How many have you lost and at what age were they?

Sleeping
 

She's sleeping soundly with her siblings right now and I couldn't resist taking another pic to post to show how much smaller she is. The pictures really don't even show it as real as it really is!

How could anyone not fall in love with that precious little girl. You are doing a great job, Breny. She looks so happy. In fact, they all do. What a wonderful Mommy they have. Hugs and prayers coming your way.

Keep up the good work!She looks such a sweetie pie,it will all be worth it.

Saturdays update
 

Well I got up this morning and got the bottle ready like I always do and opened the door to the puppy room, and looked in Tia's box and no Tia! :eek:

She had managed to crawl up her stuffed puppy and climb out. And its a Tall box! So I'm thinking she had to have had a hard fall. She was laying sleeping all by herself in Zoey's bed! She was fine the little bugger.

Eating "ok". Nothing overly exciting in that are and still won't eat on her own.

Still skinny skinny. I hate seeing her so skinny!!!!!

She is a feisty little girl, isn't she - rawling out of that box. Guess she has a mind of her own. She's got to be getting enough nourishment to have that much strength. Maybe she is just going to be a tiny, petite little girl. I looked like an Ethiopian Poster Child growing up, I was so scrawney and boney. Wouldn't know it now. You are doing a great job, Breny. Hugs and prayers from all of us to all of you. Keep up the good work.

Hi Breny,
Haha..........well Tia has energy! Crawling out of her box the lil monkey! She must be getting enough food to not only sustain her but give energy to climb too.
The other babies in the past died within a few days, their clefts were all in the back like Tias and very large, extending almost the entire width of the mouth in the very back. I didnt know this until they died and I was able to see to the very back. You know how small their mouths are, and how unbelievably strong their lil jaws are, so I couldnt see the extent of the cleft until later. I didnt want to pull & force their mouths open. So very sad. They didnt have the will like Joker either. So consider Tia a lil miracle for sure. I certainly do Joker.
Your on the downhill slide! Keep up the good work.

yes she deffinatley has energy :) I just tried to feed her....she didn't want to eat :( so I let her down on the floor and she had a wrestling match with her mom Zoey and they crawled up in Zoeys bed (by herself) and is sleeping there now by herself.

Her eating worries me and now her little tail bones are sticking out. Any suggestion on anything I could add to her formula to increase her weight? I'm already adding Nutrical. And of course, she still isn't eating on her own.

I also wanted to say thanks :) to everyone following our Thread. I appreciate all your support!!!! I need all I can get and having everyone to talk to helps me so much! :thumbup:

Here she is
 

Here I had to take a pic

She is so sweet! Don't you just want to hold her and cuddle her and never put her down? I wish I could help, but I don't have a clue what to do in this case. You're doing such a great job Breny. You should be proud.

So sweet! Love the pictures!