Remembering Lilly…

Dear Folks,

The puppies are coming! The puppies are coming! /The puppies are …..

Lilly started labor on a Sunday afternoon.  She jumped on my lap while I was seated in my recliner in the living room, crocheting little red and green sweaters for the expected puppies.They will come “gift wrapped” in little red or green sweaters with white fur trim, when they go to their new homes at Christmas time.  Just as I got the yarn out of her way,  she let loose with a whoosh, her water broke.  After I cleaned up me, the chair and Lilly, we made our way to the Maternity ward. (Master bathroom.)  She had four puppies.  I will take them to the Vet for their tails docked and dew claws removed.  Lilly is a very proud Mom.  She scratches on the door when she wants to go out to potty. Then she prances in front of the other pregnant dogs…Rosie, Poppy, Holly and Pansy.  As if to say..”I have babies and you don’t..And I’m looking gooood.  With my new trim figure and bigggg “Hooter Bosoms”.  The other expectant Moms are dying to go into the Maternity Ward and check out her pups.  They get to the open door and Lilly gives them a glance and a grrr.   She is not willing to share her little treasures yet.  Once they get about three weeks old she won’t even care who nurses them.  The Moms will form almost a commune with the babies.

Last night was the night from hell for me. I have three pregnant dogs sleeping on my bed with me.  Ron is on the couch so he can get some sleep.  I don’t know why he prefers the couch to our beautiful guest room, all furnished with antiques and a big feather bed.  I think ge got use to sleeping on the bus, or he likes the feeling of camping out.  Maybe he feels he is making a sacrifice for the cause.  He is sharing my sleepless nights.  Every time the Moms have to go out , we walk by the gate to the laundry room where the other dogs are and of course they have to wake up and bark.  They are probably complaining about their sleep being interrupted.  Or just asking where we are going and is it time to start the day.  Then we pass the couch where Ron is nested.  The dogs of course have to run over to check on him and see if he is sleeping.  Pawing him to make sure he is not faking being asleep.  Then out the front door the four go.  I pray there is not a skunk lurking about.  They sniff each rock and plant and then each other.  “Did you do anything? Where did you go?  I found a great spot. Follow me, I will show you.”  This ritual takes a good ten minutes, before my gentle whispers urging them back into the house gets elevated to a loud  firm command; “GET IN HERE NOW!”  Then back to check on Ron.  “Hey Dad!  You sleeping?  I went potty.  Found a great spot.  Did you miss me?”   Pass the gate to the laundry room where the stearage class sleep. “NaNaNaNa! We get to sleep with Mom and you don’t”.

Gets them going every time.   A couple of; ” Quiet”!  And we make it back to the bedroom. Let Lilly into the bathroom.  Lift each of the three expectant Moms up onto the bed, they are now to fat to jump onto .  Climb in and wait for the three to sort out which one gets to sleep the closest to me.  This power, pecking order goes on until I finally GRRR at them.  Just start to drift back to sleep and ..scratch, scratch.  I count bodies on the bed.  One is missing.  It is Poppy, she is scratching to go out again. I warn her sternly to go to sleep. I just start to drift off and; Scratch, scratch.. I give up!  Jump oout of bed barefooted and step in “Poppy Poop”.  Well, heck!  She tried to tell me. I clean up me and the rug and take Poppy back out side. Of course all the other dogs are not going to let this be an exclusive trip for Poppy.  No dog travels solo around here.  And the whole adventure starts again.  Including  Lilly who is not about to be left out.  This happens three more times.  It seems Poppy has diarrhea.  Oh, Joy!!

I try to will myself back to sleep… Scratch, Scratch.. It is Lilly who has not missed a “Potty Trek.”  I sternly  warn her to go back to sleep.  Scratch, Scratch… Then I hear a puppy whimper.. I am out of that bed in a flash.. This old lady can move when she has to!  I flip on the light and examine the kennel, count pups, one, two, three, where is the fourth one?  My eye follows the whimper and sees a lump under the towel bedding.  How did that little stinker manage to get way under there.  I rescue the little darling, they are ever so sweet.  Fill up some water bottles with hot water, put socks on them and tuck everyone back in,  apologize to Lilly and creep back into bed, after lifting all three of the expectant Moms back onto the bed.

I lay there wide awake thinking about how sleep deprived I am going to be tomorrow, how tired and… Scratch, Scratch.. Lilly.  I check on her and the pups, everything is fine.  She just wanted to make sure I was on duty in case she needed me.

Since I am wide awake now,  I may as well write the “Farm Report”.. I hear Ron getting up to get ready to leave for work.  I ask sweetly,  “Isn’t it a bit early for you to leave?” He mumbles something about napping on the bus.  He starts the coffee and we share a few chuckles about the dogs.  May as well laugh If we lose our sense of humor all is lost.

If anyone thinks breeding dogs is all fun and pleasure, pass this around to them.  Perhaps, this is what helps keep the pure bred dog population down.  See, I knew I would find something positive.

Love,Mary

We are laughing not yawning.