Potty Training 101

As much as I hate "potty training" I knew it would have to happen eventually.

Yep, it's that time.

Michaela is the first. Nine weeks old and completely potty training. No, I am not kidding. She pees on the paper. She poops on the paper. She also pees and poops outside. 

Humphrey is about halfway there. We had a bit of a rough start because Humphrey started peeing in the middle of the floor, right around the time I decided we were in serious need of Potty Training 101. I would grab him and run to the paper and he would be finished.

Jean-Luc refuses to go on paper at all, he doesn't like to be watched. He was prone to going under the bed, and only under the bed before I decided to block access to that location and put a stop to that.

Back to the books. I did some research and studied some potty training guides on the internet, not for the first time. It was the same thing I read when I tried to potty train my Michi, seven years ago.

Either put them in a kennel or put paper over the entire floor. I do not own a kennel. I own a playpen. If you follow my blog you know this. So, I put Humphrey and Jean-Luc in the playpen. I laid fresh newspaper across the "potty area." Yes, I only want them going in one area.

When they wake me up in the morning, which inevitably is every morning, I rush each of them in turn to the paper. Humphrey first because when he says he has to go, he means it and there is no time for delay. He won't pee in the kennel if he can help it.

 Michaela second because I can set her on the floor and she will take herself to the paper.

Then Jean-Luc, who has made almost zero progress.

The problem with Jean-Luc, I think, is that he will only potty when no one can see him because he is shy. I am not sure what I can do about this. He will potty in the playpen rather than waiting to be "taxied" to the paper. The playpen has paper across it. 

The original plan was for the playpen to be covered in paper, except for a sleep area since they do nap in there, but they rip it up, get it wet, and just move it around in general, so I don't know how this is going to work.

Anybody who's been through this stage have tips?

Michaela is good at keeping secrets!

Today, we're working on a surprise for all of our lovely fans.

The "we" is Michaela (that little girl is a genius mastermind, I tell ya!), Jean-Luc, Humphrey, and myself. And of course, it will be in memory of little Alistair.

So, I just realized that a surprise means that we can't say what it is.

Does that mean I have to write a whole entire blog post that's actually about something.

She thinks keeping secrets from you is hilarious!

You have probably figured out by now that the puppies are back to good health. Although, Humphrey did get a little sick today. I'm not sure why. It may have been the antibiotic. He and Jean-Luc are still taking it.

Michaela bit my face this morning. This is how she wakes me up every morning. So, I decided to turn the tables on her.

I kissed her so fast that she didn't even have a chance to open her mouth! You have no idea how fast that means you have to be.

Wasn't it yesterday that she looked like this?

Blast From The Past: Michaela, 2 weeks old

New pictures of The Awesome Six coming soon!

Don't forget.

We have a surprise for you!

Maggie and Marilyn

Maggie and Marilyn

Our friend updates us on Maggie and Marilyn.

Marilyn, she says, is back to bouncing around like a crazy dog.

Maggie lost some weight. She is doing better, though. She ate half a can of wet dog food.

Michaela, Jean-Luc, and Humphrey are playing like there is no tomorrow.

We have to decide between cremation and burial for Alistair.

I think we are going with cremation and a lovely memorial stone for the garden.

We will always think of him.

Outtake from Alistair's 6 week profile picture.
"Picture? I thought you said it was play time!" - Alistair

Jean-Luc And Humphrey: Feeling Better

Jean-Luc and Humphrey are feeling better. They antibiotics seemed to have helped them a lot.

We gave Michaela a little bit, just in case. I didn't want her to come down with anything.

We all miss Alistair. There is a certain emptiness to the house without him in it. I can't stop thinking about him.

Just writing in this blog, now that I have only three, now that one of them is in Heaven, I feel guilty. Extremely guilty.

I tried to save Alistair. I did everything I could think of to save him. It wasn't enough.

I wish I could have done more.

Jean-Luc, Humphrey, and Michaela have all been playing today. Except for when they were sleeping off the antibiotic.

They are much improved.

We all miss you and love you, Alistair.

Rest In Peace, Alistair

A little after three the vet called me.

Alistair has passed away.

I can't even say it out loud.

When we went to visit him this morning, after we sang to him and prayed for him, I leaned close to him and I said softly, "Alistair, we both know you are Mommy's Little Fighter, but if you are tired of fighting, it's okay to let go."

We left the vet's office at eleven this morning.

I'll be working on a memorial for Alistair while I'm still in the shock phase, before the true grief sets in, the hard part.

The part where it feels like the world just stopped spinning and then fell on top of you.

It's so heavy there's nothing you can do about it.

Alistair no longer needs prayers. He is safe with Michi, Grandma, Dad, Cadence, Buffy, Lauren, Rachel, Alex, Michael, Mogwai, Stephanie, Clementine, Angelo(his brother who died at birth), Avery, Desi, Kimmy, Misty, and all the others who passed away before him. And they are having a party because Alistair is home.

He is no longer in a weak body.

He can finally, truly relax. He is not in pain. He is not suffering. He is not alone. 

For that I am thankful.

Still Sick

Alistair is still in the hospital.

Jean-Luc and Humphrey weren't feeling too good last night but we gave them pedialyte and they are doing much better this morning.

They ate food. They drank water. I gave them antibiotics.

We visited Alistair in the hospital.

He is still on IV Fluids.

He is being given dextrose for his hypoglycemia.

He is being given pain medication so that he will not be in any pain.

His chances are 50/50.

I didn't get to take their 8 Week Day Profile Pictures.

It would have been too weird. Only three here and the ones who are here, not feeling well.

There was no way I could do it.

I did take a few pictures today. 

The antibiotics have kicked in. 
Jean-Luc and Humphrey are sleeping.
Michaela is sleeping, too, even though she hasn't had any antibiotics.

8 Week Day; Hospital

Today is a bittersweet day.

Alistair, Humphrey, Jean-Luc, Magdalena, Marilyn, and Michaela are 8 weeks old today.

Magdalena and Marilyn are getting along fine in their new home.

I'm happy for that.

Alistair wrapped in blankets

Alistair went to the vet this morning.

He has a virus. 

They kept him in their little hospital. 

I'm scared to death.

I have never had to put one of my babies in the hospital before.

The difficult part is knowing he will be alone overnight.

I'm not happy about it.

He was so weak when we took him in this morning.

I'm praying for you, Alistair. You're Mommy's Little Fighter.

On a positive note we discovered that the puppies are half boxer.

A Blast From The Past

 There were photos on my camera that never got posted because I took them without realizing that my old computer didn't allow me to put in a memory card. So, now I give you a blast from the past. These pictures were taken when the six were four weeks old.

Top(left to right) Alistair, Maggie; Bottom(Left to right) Mac, Marilyn, Jean-Luc

From left to right: Jean-Luc, Alistair, Marilyn, Michaela, (Either Maggie or Humphrey is beneath Jean-Luc)
I believe all six of them were in my lap(some not seen) when this picture was taken.

Alistair, 4 weeks

Humphrey, 4 weeks

At times I miss when they were this size. I mean, I could pick them up with one hand! But then I remind myself, 

When they were this size you constantly worried.

When they were this size you couldn't sleep through the night.

When they were this size you had to help nurse six babies.

Of course, I love them at the size they are now. They are growing into who they are going to be. Developing their personalities and it is great. I love watching them grow.

I hope you enjoyed this blast from the past.

Home Sweet Home

Maggie and Marilyn went to their new home today.

They were both adopted into the same family.

That comforts me.

Magdalena, Marilyn, Michaela, Alistair, Humphrey, and Jean-Luc at 4 weeks.

I did cry a little, though.

I was doing fine. We were riding in the car. Listening to the music. Both of them in my lap. Then Maggie looked up at me.

She just gave me this look.

And I teared up. 

I couldn't help it.

Maggie: Her eyes are weapons of mass cuteness.

Maggie did fine when we around the people sitting in the unit. Marilyn was shaky and cried. They were both more comfortable when they were with their sister.

Marilyn (7 1/2 weeks) was nervous but did okay when with her sister.

I'm so glad I didn't have to separate them.

I think they'll be fine since they stuck together.

I should get updates often on how they are doing since the girl who took them works with my mother on a regular basis.

Before you get too sad, remember, you can still look forward to posts about Michaela, Alistair, Jean-Luc, and Humphrey.

I'll be posting pictures of them playing outside, enjoying their first spring soon.

ALISTAIR

ALISTAIR

We call him Alistair The Bear and have even given his stare a nickname. 

The Alistair Stare.

Alistair is the only one of the puppies that does not bark or whine. No, when he wants you to pick him up he simply sits back and gives you the Alistair Stare, which is a look so soulful that you simply cannot resist picking up this cute little teddy bear. He is much lighter than he looks with all that hair. He weighs less than the rest of the puppies, probably due to the fact that he took more terrier than bull.

His favourite toy is also the pop up adventure play tent but rather than sleeping in it, Alistair enjoys trying to drag it around and pull on it. 

HUMPHREY

HUMPHREY

I thought he looked like a Phil for the longest time but about a week ago I started to really see the Humphrey in him. He won't sleep on the floor, for anything. He looks up at the bed and cries until I give him salvation and allow him to join me. He loves books. Unfortunately, he loves eating them, not reading them. His favourite books are Alfred Hitchcock books. The ones from the 1960's that are difficult to find. He also loves stuffed animals, textured pillows, and his rattle.

JEAN-LUC

JEAN-LUC

Jean-Luc is a bit of a loner. Her prefers to spend time with people than spending it with other dogs. He likes to spend time by himself, exploring or looking quizzically up at somebody while they are cleaning or working on the house. I think he looks a bit like a Dr. Seuss character. I call him a woozle. One his favourite things to do is sleep in the pop-up adventure play tent that I found at Goodwill and purchased for $4 for my babies. It's a great place to take a nap.