Vida clinging by a string...

Vida has now stopped nursing from Nini altogether.  It's heartbreaking.  I am supplementing with a syringe, because she will not suckle from a bottle.  She barely swallows what I can get in her, which at this point is about 2cc's.  She cried, it seems, in agony last night.  I tried to comfort her by adjusting her spot, cuddling her, hydrating her tongue--anything and everything you could think of--I tried...  My vet thinks that her liver is probably not working correctly--maybe malformed...  Makes sense--she has not grown like the others when she was suckling from Nini's rich fatty milk...  So, being that the liver plays one of the main roles in metabolizing our food/nutrients--I can only guess hers is not well...

She is however a fighter--I would have thought that she would have left us by now...  The Albon (antibiotic) is still being given, doubt it will do much at this point.  My main focus with her today is to keep her comfortable, as I want her to pass here by the side of her mom and siblings--so that it is her final view of this world as she exits.  I hope she knows that she was cherished.  Vida will always hold a special place in my heart and memories.  We will miss her...

The pictures were taken yesterday, 1.22.10.

Vida is home from the vet...

Vida is now home from her vet visit this morning.  She was given another enema, but nothing of much consistency came out; mostly just yellow watery stool.  Her stool was examined twice, under the microscope by Dr. Hill himself, to see if there were any signs of Coccidia--none that he could find.  But, she will be put on Albon until Monday, just as a precautionary measure.  She wiggled, squirmed and walked the length of the cage she was in.  The surgery room was filled with her non-stop whiny squeaking.  She had everyone on their toes...  Yeah Vida!!!

But, as Dr. Hill says, it could go either way.  He has seen worse cases pull through.  Yet, he has seen more encouraging cases not make it. So, we are still up in the air--which is torturous... 

She has nursed since getting home--encouraging for me...  Her color seems a bit better--also encouraging...  But, she is still in the hands of the higher power.  And I am no clairevoyant...

Again, shoot your good thoughts her way...  Thanks to all...

Vida is still not well, but still here...

She is at the Vets until 1pm.  They will give her another enema and keep a close eye on her.  Supplemental milk will also be given if needed.  I cried as I left her and told them to take extra special care of her!  "I want her to die at home with her mom and siblings--if the Doc thinks she has very little chance of survival." I said to Julia who works at the reception desk. I was assured by her that she would make sure she was being watched carefully... 

However, she did come home yesterday, after her first enema, and nursed a few times from Nini.  I did have to supplement because she just wasn't nursing as often as the others--and I didn't want her to become dehydrated.  So, she had a 3am feeding via syringe, because she will NOT TAKE A BOTTLE.  So, hard when they just reject that rubbery nipple--but I can see why--it is no where near as soft and supple as is mom's. More formula was given to her before I took her in this morning...

This morning, after not seeing her poop last night, I tried to give her a warm water enema on my own with a suctioner.  Seems to have gone in-she whined a bit-but nothing came out.  I had no choice but to run over the the Vets again...  Everyone was cooing over how beautiful and little she is...  Many warm wishes for her as I sat and waited for them to attend to her...  Everyone talked with me about how much their own animal meant to them...  No different from our human kids-we all agreed...  This is turning into a grueling never ending lesson--am not sure what I need to be taking from this???  As I said before, my heart will NEVER harden for any of my babies...  So, if that is the lesson I need to digest, then I suggest to the powers, to stop trying to shove it down my throat--they will not win! I will never become some callous breeder or person when it comes to the animals of our Earth.  I was born on Earth Day-April 22, after all...


Sorry to ramble this is just all taking a toll on my mind and I am physically worn out too...

I will post again after I pick her up at 1pm.  Please send her your positive wishes--I believe positive energy can work miracles...

Vida clinging, but barely...

Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all who have left encouraging and sympathetic comments for Vida.  I appreciate each and every one! 

 Vida went to see the Vet this afternoon.  He found her to be constipated and gave her an enema.  Was told to supplement with formula.  However, she is refusing both the bottle and her mother's nipple--which is disheartening... I can only keep her warm for now next to her momma.  She will wither away quickly at this rate-no doubt.  It is just a matter of waiting for her to take her last breath... 

What hurts the most is the fact that she looks like a such a precious little piece of perfection...  Complete, shiny, coordinated and agile...

If she continues to wither with no hope and is clinging to life tomorrow morning, then I may just have to take her in and euthanize her--it's more humane that watching her suffer this long...

What life lesson is it I am supposed to be learning from this experience.  Am I supposed to become more hardened and less affected by similar experiences? I am not made like that--my heart will never give in to the lessons death would like me to learn...

Vida is taking a turn for the worse...

Looks like today will end with much heartache...  Vida has taken a turn for the worse.  Yesterday evening she began to act sluggish and not enthusiastic when it came to nursing. Her color also became quite dark and purplish.

 I tried it all-bottle feeding (would have nothing to do with it), Karo Syrup (only got her up and going for a minute or two), Hydrating her with water (cried through it)--it just looks like the end is near. All I can do is keep her by her mother's side and covered with a blanket...  I kiss her every time I go by...

I feel defeated by death, after almost 9 nights of no sleep and constant vigil...  Death is not my friend--I have never like the damn "Grim Reaper..."  I don't do well when Death is near...  I have had way too much of it in my 39 years of life.  Starting with my father whom I lost at just 8 years of age.  To then see my grandfather, (mother's dad) whom I loved dearly and who lived with us, wither away at home from Lung Cancer when I was 14.  Lost my last living grandparent (mom's mother) March 1st of 2008 here in Winter Springs in the care of Hospice at my mother's home.  Saw her leave this world, also... My list of Death's visits feels neverending...

It is too soon.  I still think of BB and how I wanted to breathe life into her body...  How my friend Karen would feel on return-it was unbearable.  It is no different this time.  I learn no new lessons from Death visiting...  The pain is no less each time...  

Vida and I will meet again, in the end.  And she will be cured of all that ails her...  She will be a beautiful cream and white longcoated 2 lb. girl with tail wagging...  And she will slobber me with kisses.

Sorry to get so personal.  It's been a long week and tough fight.  I cannot keep my heart and mind from aching right now....  

Vida makes it to 8 days of age...

This is Vida--she is officially 8 days old today and fits in the palm of my hand.  Her weight is now 4.6 oz, while all her siblings have doubled in size, if not are very close to doubling.... My dogs have always produced the bigger chunkier puppies--this is a new experience for me.  Have to say--it's a scary one!  I am not convinced that these little puppies are all that easy to produce...  It's really hard work,  not to mention taxing on the mind and emotions... 

She is addictive--I have to kiss her, hold her and watch over her wayyyyyyy too much.... !!!  I think she is exquisite...  Perfection.  I want as many people out there to see her and keep her in their thoughts--only good thoughts for her!!!  She needs all of the positive energy she can get.  All I ask is that you take a few seconds to hold Vida in your thoughts and think only good things for her to come!  Thanks! 

Vida is one tough cookie...

Vida has decided she wants to live...  She is a little fighter who wiggles her way around the little pool they are all in to find that nice warm milk coming from her momma.  Eventhough she gets tossled and shoved off many times, her resolve is constant...  Up she gets and goes right back to where she was headed.  Finally, she finds that spot that is meant for her and attaches.  All the others have doubled in size, or close to it.  She continues to weigh in at 4.4oz for the past two days.  No signs of dehydration.  I am faithfully dabbing her tongue with Karo every couple of hours.  I feel it is helping.  I know from the little knowledge I have of medicine, that glucose plays a big role in being able to metabolize food.  If your levels are too low, then whatever you ingest will not be converted into energy that the body can use and benefit from...  So, I will continue to dab her for a few more days--until something significant happens--and let's hope the significant change is positive....!!!

So, send Vida your positive thoughts and energy-- I have a feeling about this little girl--she will be a very special one for us if she makes it.........

Zombie daze....

So, sorry for the lack of updates/info---I am in a constant mental and physical fog.  Nini and Chico had their puppies in the AM of the 12th of Jan.  She started at 2am and ended at almost 7am.  Six puppies were delivered,  but one was a stillborn, a cream colored male.  Sad--tried to work on him, but it was apparent he had not been alive for some time.  The placenta attached to him, which is supposed to be a dark deep red, was green and decomposing; sign of having died in the womb.  Anyway, 5 others were born into this world.  Three girls and two boys.  One little girl, I am naming Vida (for life in Spanish) was born with her sack already deflated--which can cause them to aspirate the water from their sack if it breaks in the canal...  So, I am assuming she aspirated her sack water which caused her to have water in her lungs.  Well, you get the picture--she had a hell of a time breathing for a long time.  I worked on her for over two hours until I felt her breathing had a rhythm and looked more stabilized...  We're talking the CHI-ICU over at ChihuahuaCrazy!  CRAZY!!!! 

VIDA

Her color was a deep red/purple for a couple of days--they call it the color of death in the Chi breeding world.  But, now she is looking rosier.  She is looking better everyday and becoming more active and squirmy--but, I do not want to artificially inflate my head with pretty thoughts--she may still not make it.  We will see....  She is literally half the size of the others...  She just now started to gain some weight--she had been maintaining her weight, but not showing signs of gain...  If you read this, send a positive thought our way for VIDA...

VIDA AGAIN

It amazes me to think that with every birth I always learn something new.  This time the lesson learned was KEEP A TAB ON ALL PLACENTAS PER PUPPY.  Nini had a few consecutive quick whelps and ripped the cord leaving the placenta in her uterus.  Well, she retained two placentas in all.  The next day she constantly leaked a heavy dark green liquid-unusually heavy...  It worried me.   In the evening I decided to bathe her bottom to get her clean and thank goodness two cords were hanging out of her vulva.  So, I was able to pull one--and there was a complete placenta and then the other...  Sounds gross and it is, but she could have become SEPTIC if they would have continued in her.  She felt the instant relief after they were extracted...  New Nini.

So, I am doing what I always do with every litter which is to care for them as they sleep and nurse next to my side of the bed with a night light on (which my husband really appreciates!).  I wake up a thousand times to adjust and rearrange them, take Nini out to potty, clean her up as she comes back in, feed her and give her water and then help the puppies latch on again...  No sleep for me for now.  But, I would not do it any other way.... 

Nini and her pups...

NIni looking like a beached whale...

So, Nini is still doing well and holding on...  I thought she would blow by now--but, her appetite is good and her belly is still high.  As soon as she stops eating and starts the panting, we'll know the moment is approaching. 

Boogie likes to keep her company and lick her eyes and ears--which Nini loves. 

Pancho left us today for his new home with Melissa and Chad in Port Orange, where Melissa will be starting Chiropractic School.  He will be spoiled!  She arrived with his crate, couture jacket, leash & collar and comfy harness...  Am elated he found such a great home...  They promise to update ChihuahuaCrazy soon!

The Heat is On!!!!

So, Daisy which I thought would just skip this heat altogether is finally showing signs being in heat--bleeding, flagging and being very promiscuous with the males in the house.  She really wants Boogie to be a MAN--but, poor Boogie, as bad as he wants to please her, he just can't manage to at almost 6 mths of age...  His time will come... 

The next best thing is a friend's male, Nacho, who lives nearby...  He is a red on white with Irish markings and a teeny bit smaller than Daisy.  I think they will make beautiful puppies...  Daisy is now at Charlotte's house.  Charlotte lives next to Jessie (Nacho's owner) and Nacho and will be supervising the Tango between the two...  So far, so good.  Looks like Daisy approves of her partner and "daddy to be" to her puppies.  I imagine she will be having her pups sometime in mid March if all goes well...

Holidays are over-back to reality...

So, is everybody feeling it?  Christmas is over--and all that is good about it, laughing with family while doing nothing, snuggling with dogs on your bed or couch aimlessly, lots of food, snuggling at home with hot chocolate, loafing around with really no aim in the day except to eat and then eat some more...

Baaaahhhh, yup it's done...  Taking down the tree (blah!), putting away exterior lights (ehhhh), finding spots for all the Christmas gifts in all ready packed closets! (ughhhh) Returning stuff that is not what we quite need or want--yuck...

Don't mean to bring anyone down--just wish it could last longer, that's all.... 

So, here we are just waiting for something to happen with Nini-when she is ready which could mean as soon as 6 days from today... 

Daisy, it seems is in full blown heat!!!!  Chico and she are doing the dance.  Although, I think it will not be those two who will get to mate--so far, I am watching them like a hawk and will not let anything happen...  Chico, although looking better as far as weight goes, is structurally not right for Daisy...  I have a couple of options in that arena.  We'll see...

Hope everyone transitions well today--it's official!  We are off and running with 2010...

Mimi--Now Isis, is finally with her new owner!

Mimi was taken to the airport early this morning at 5am, EST.  She flew via Continental, which I think is by far the best when a pet is flying on it's own...  The flight was headed from MCO(Orlando Int. Airport) to MFE (Mc Allen Texas Airport).  But, it had a stopover in Houston, Texas on it's way.  We'll, I tracked it online - great thing for us empty nesters! - and it was delayed a whole hour in Houston due to maintenance...  Poor thing--I want them to just go and get to their destination as fast as possible--the sugar (hypoglycemia) issue scares me...  But, upon arrival and after doing her necessities, Jose Luis, her new owner called to let me know she had arrived fine and was already eating... ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, was all I felt...

He is on his way back to Monterrey, Mexico with her, as I write.  He LOVED her and gave me a million thanks...  He could not believe how small she is and was feeling awkward just holding her... Her face, he says, "Screams love me, hold me, take care of me..."  I think the same... 

It's all worth it, in the end...

She will always hold a special place in my heart...

The pics shown are of her last night with us on 12/29/09...

Happy Holidays for all !

Happy Holidays to all !  Hope that the New Year brings us Wealth(whatever that means to each of you) and Health...
Sorry for the lack of updates/blogs--I have been fighting with this damn laptop--it doesn't seem to like me much these days... 

But, I finally won and am happy to report we are all well here at ChihuahuaCrazy...  Crazy as ever this holiday season.  Getting the house ready for sale,     =(   

Sad time for us, in that respect.  Love this home we've had the privelege to live in--it has brought us many good things...  Many, many puppies have been born here--can't be sad about that!  And now, we will see the last of the ones to be born here soon...

Above, I have an updated picture for Apollo (born Bingo here).  He is a beauty !  Lucy and Chico do not cease to amaze me in that arena... 

Mimi will be leaving us on Wednesday--and my heart will sink to the floor upon our final goodbye...  I am totally in love with her--but, her new home will be spectacular and she will be spoiled rotten.  Something I want for all my chis...

Nini is about to pop !  Pray she can hold on--because I have never seen her this LARGE at this point in the game!  All I want is a healthy delivery for her and her pups-no surprises, please... 

Moo Moo is still waiting for her SPECIAL home...  She deserves a lot of love--lots of spunk in that Moo!

Our horses are doing well.  I am so blessed to have this life that I do.  I hope all you feel the same...

Off topic--horses...

Sorry to go off topic--but, today was phenomenal!!!!  We got a new horse named India.  She is a Tennessee Walker and maybe Quarter Mix?  Anyway, she is 19 yrs. young and soooo sweet...  She was taken in by her previous owner who took a disliking to her....  Wanted to go out with her shotgun and shoot her because in her mind the horse was not worth a penny...  Supposedly, the horse has COPD or chronic Asthma --but, at the same time the horse was put out in a small pasture without a single square of shade to hide under during the hottest hours of the day!!!!  And she is BLACK--for the love of life!!!  The horse was a gift from my good friend and trainer, Lindsey...  We went on a nice long trail ride with India and Taja, Lindsey and I...  So nice to be out in the sunny cold...

So, the chis got to run around in their pasture inspecting the new horse and the not so new ones...  I love that the horse hold no ill feelings toward these little rats running in and around their ankles/hooves...  I love that my dogs get the extra exposure of being with the horses...  Boogie rode on Pearl's  (the baby/6 mths old) back for a few seconds... Didn't have my camera!!!

It's been a good day--anyday with animals is a good day for me...

Our first puppy from Lucy X Chico leaves...

So, Fifi was the first to leave our brood, today...  It's always bittersweet for me.  Although, it brings me so much happiness to see new owners meet their puppy for the first time...  It was meant to be.

Fifi, was picked up personally at MCO (Orlando International Airport) by Michelle, her new mom from Long Island, NY...  She's got two excited children, fraternal twins age 8 waiting for her supposed arrival on Sunday...  What a surprise when mom walks through the door with little Fifi...  I'll have to find out the details from Michelle later this week.  She will have a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Oreo, as a brother--what a duo that will be!  I am sure they will have funny pics and video of the pair, in the future ...

I could not be happier as to her new home. She will be adored.  Michelle found it hard to believe she was so small.  The jacket and sweater she had purchased in NY in XXS--looked way too big to wear right now.  She flew in a luxurious travel bag with a beautiful fleece blanket... 

And as I always say, "Our puppies leave our home, but never our hearts..."

I love what I do...

Off they go...

So, the time is approaching soon...  =(     It is all bittersweet for me--every single time...  The puppies will be leaving us soon.  First, Fifi, which found a great family to live with in Long Island, NY, this Friday.  In fact, she is going to be picked up personally at the airport here in Orlando and will fly in cabin--oooh la la...  Then, Chulo will follow on Sunday, he will stay local in Davenport...  Mimi will be next on the 30th--ayyyy Chihuahua--she is going to Monterrey, Mexico. 

Pancho will leave on the 9th of Jan--going to a local couple who will spoil him rotten !  And all that is left is for us to find Moo Moo that special home...Couldn't be happier about their new owners and the lives they will be living.  I know that in the end--I will someday be reunited with them all!!!  I have faith in that--can you picture it???!!! 

CHIHUAHUA HEAVEN FOR ME...