Puppies and Spirit are doing really well.  The puppies are growing and putting on weight. 

I picked up my new whelping box today.  Love the new whelping box, although it is a bit big and that posed a challenge to get it home.  Luckily, Pam lent me her beautiful van to go get it.  The next challenge I face was getting it down stairs.  After taking it apart and one bout of landing on my a#%#!  All was good and it is in the whelping room.  It is a good size to give Spirit a lot of room with her puppies.  Also, the solid plastic is wonderful to clean.

Things didn't exactly go as planned but the puppies are here.  Spirit started to go into labour on Monday (Oct 26) in the afternoon.  Things started well, she was nesting, uncomfortable and panting.  We did see a few small contractions.  However, after waiting all night nothing progressed beyond this point.  We decided that she was in uterine inertia and needed to go to the vets.  We took her into the clinc and they quickly prepped her for a c-section.  At 10.30am on Tuesday morning we had three healthy puppies.  We were a bit surprised that there were only 3, we had thought from the size of her and the impression we got by the ultrasound that she would have more.  We ended up with 2 boys and one girl, they are a good size and well marked.

Spirit is now in first stage labour.  She is uncomfortable, digging and won't leave her whelping box.  Waiting now for her water to break.  Sometimes we see this happen, sometimes we don't.  Expect to be up all night whelping the puppies.

On another note, my new van did not pass it's post sale inspection so I will not be getting that van.  Oh well, there will always be another one.

Spirit's temperature has come down to 37.1 C, so it looks like tonight will be the night.   She is comfortable and relaxed right now, so she isn't in first stage labour yet.  Once she starts first stage it can be a while, so all the waiting begins.  Once the puppies start I will update with pictures and details.

June (Valamar's Country Girl) and Juno (Valamar's Norther Exposure) both arrived safely last night from Alberta.  They are settling in nicely and are booked to get groomed today.  Juno is out of coat right now, but as she comes back into shape we hope to get her out to some shows.  We would also like to finish June, she hasn't been shown since she was with us last year.  June only needs 3 points for finish her championship and that will give Aspen her ROM title. 

Spirit is still doing well, her temp this morning was 37.5, so nothing should happen today.  She does seem to be nesting a bit more today.   She is more inclined to lay on her blanket, more licking herself and not interested in her bones and toys.  She did eat this morning but not her full meal.

On another note.  I bought a van yesterday for dog shows.  Very exciting as my last vehicle could only carry two crates.  This van will be able to carry a lot more.  It needs a bit of cleaning up but was a really good deal.