We Have Grandpuppies! LOTS of Grandpuppies.

Nine, to be precise! Five boys and 4 girls, healthy, squirmy, and exercising stronger voices by the day! They were born Friday night, after we had gone to Elder Daughter’s to watch the Saints game, of course. By the time we got home, at about 9:00, she had already whelped three of them — on the couch in our bedroom. (I took the couch cushion to the cleaners this morning — we shall see. We can always turn the cushion over, but I do hope they can get any odor out of it.) The couch, pre-birthing suite (you don’t really want to see the post- view):

I gathered up the pups and got them to the pool, where Mysti quickly joined them. Pepper worked on the couch and carpet for awhile. And my purse, which had a little puppy residue in it, too. I know — gross. Daughters and DiLshowed up after eight had arrived and we thought that was all of them. Pretty cool — 8 puppies born on 8/8! Daughters headed home, but DiL stayed for a bit. After 30 minutes or so, she said, “Is that another one?” I thought, surely not — it’s been so long since the last. But, sure enough here came another — the largest one yet! We did have to help break the sac, though.

Younger Daughter was pretty concerned about the runt, who had a little trouble latching onto Mama. She did internet research, gave us an eyedropper from Grand #5′s diaper bag to try a Karo Syrup coating on one of the teats, and just fussed in general. Fortunately, the little guy got the hang of it eventually and is growing like Topsy.

I took this shot the first time Mysti voluntarily left the puppy “bed” (that’s spelled “pink, plastic wading pool!”).

I promise I didn’t place the pups in this shot — they just kinda wound up like this.

Bouie has been feeling a trifle marginalized the last few days — a tad on the needy side. He has wound up in bed with us for the last several nights. Not a good thing — he’s a bed hog.

Yesterday, Pepper distracted Mysti and Bouie so I could take the pups to the Vet to have their dew claws removed. (The useless little claws are removed so they don’t get caught and ripped off in brush and stuff, thus risking infection.) Here they are, going on their first field trip. Can you believe I got them all in a laundry basket? They really seemed to enjoy the car rides!

Several of them like to sing with their supper. Pretty funny.

We have homes for several of them, but we’ll keep one. Bouie’s and Mysti’s bloodlines are just too good not to be preserved, but I doubt we’ll be having puppies around here anymore. We’re too darned old to have 9 infants in the house! Especially after bedtime! But the cuteness factor is pretty cool, and Mysti is such a good little Mama! I’m really proud of her (and grateful! Can you imagine bottle-feeding nine puppies?!?!)

I need a nap.