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It all starts right here........
Xena and Randy 'tied' on December 13th; Valentine's day pups are expected!
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2
And just coincidentally.....
Later that night, Conan and Sonja tied too! Sonja got in sync with Xena's cycle, so Sonja was ready to mate on the same day also! Conan is neutered - NO pitbull pups are expected anytime soon!
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3
Xena inspects while hubby laughs....
He thinks its funny to take a pic of my butt!
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4
Hubby really likes this pic.......
It shows my butt TWICE (look in the mirror) but it also shows Xena's shape the day she was mated so you can compare this pic with later pix to check how she developed.
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5
January 4, 2004
22 days after being bred - does Xena look any different? She shouldn't! At this stage of the game she really isn't considered pregnant, as the fertilized ova have not yet implanted in her uterus! They have been traveling down the fallopian tubes and have been developing (they are 'blastocysts) but only now, about 3 weeks later, do they implant in the uterus. It is no coincidence that Xena got morning sick this day! In a week or two week will gradually increase Xena's rations to feed the growing horde - but not now, now is too soon, as we don't want Xena to get fat (which will make delivering the pups very difficult.)
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6
January 27th - she's got BUMP!
No missing this belly! Xena is starting to really put on the weight and get BIG. Because the pups are taking up more and more room inside that belly, we have broken her meals into several portions and feed it to her thru out the day, as Xena can no longer eat her regular portion in one sitting.
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7
Xena's "den"......
The dogs dug this burrow in the SUMMER - now its covered with snow! Xena is feeling restless about those pups tho, so she has waded thru the snow to check out the den for suitability!
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A view of the dog yard....
A winter wonderland that we must shovel paths in, else Xena's boobies will drag in the snow!
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9
To make the Princess happy..
We got tub! This is actually a borrowed tub, as the one I had purchased was a bit too big so we arranged a temporary trade. This tub was in use - some French Bulldog pups were in this just before the switch - so it smells really interesting to the pack! The pitbull girrls were all over this as soon as I brought it in the door; now that I have the camera out, I missed the shot!
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Astro finds it fascinating........
And perhaps Xena is smelling things to come! (Who knows what Goliath the cat is thinking!)
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11
February 1, and 50 days pregnant
Two weeks to go!
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12
Day 50
Its been easier to sit these days!
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13
54 days pregnant...
And Xena is getting bigger and bigger!
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54 days and counting...
Counting how many days remain until the pups come, and trying to count PUPS too! How many bulges do you see?
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15
Just so heavy and uncomfortable...
Nothing to do but wait...
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Let's hope its SOON, Xena
Poor girrl! I can feel the pups kick - poor girrl can hardly keep her breakfast down with all that kicking!
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Nest preparations begin!
In the background are the props for the nursery (got both and a connecting tunnel for $3.00 - what a deal!) and next to Astro is the foam piece that I will trim down to fit into the whelping tub.
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Sonja is the tester...
Sonja tests all beds in the house and tests one of the rotating floor beds that has just been laundered; apparently it passes the test! (See the tunnel in back - too cool!)
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Tools of the trade...
Tape measure to mark off 3 inches around the edge, the utility knife to make a deep cut 3 inches all the way around, and the bread knife to finish the cut all the way thru! This is a thick foam pad!
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Finished product...
The new, trimmed down version passes Sonja's inspection!
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Checking the fit...
Go to the bedroom to see how the foam pad fits and... Who needs a whelping tub when you can just mess up the bedding into a big pile? See Ruby?
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NOW?
Now do you see her?
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Oh, geez.....
OK, all that work to get the foam insert to fit and its too thick! I must get a thinner foam pad (like the eggcrate foam bottom left) but in the mean time we put some blankets and a crib bumper in place so Xena could aclimate. And who should find it a worthy bed? Ruby!
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24
More snow, but hubby caught it this time...
Do you see?
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