On the Eighth Day

Thanks to everyone who has let me know that you are enjoying this Blog!

The new pictures are from this morning. The two puppies are Lolo and Rosebud. Madison is added in on the one that has three, and the fourth is Ledger -- you have to look close to see all four.

We have exciting news today (drum roll please...) -- Lolo has doubled her birth weight! We usually expect puppies to double at a week or so, but this litter got off to a slow start. All lost weight in the first two days, which is not unusual at all for human babies but it was scary with the puppies and especially Lolo, who was so small. I worried she would just disappear :(

Well, now Lolo has achieved a milestone that none of the rest have accomplished yet -- she weighs more than twice what she did at birth. The others are closing in on doubling their birth weight and I expect that to happen for most by tomorrow, but little Lolo McRunty is finally ahead in something!

In other weighty news, Rosebud pulled ahead of Madison on the Weight Gain Leader Board; she now weighs a whole 1/3 of an ounce more than Madison so I would not put money on Rosebud just yet! Everyone gained between 2 - 4 ounces over a 24 hours period so things are going well.

The puppies are scooting so well, and they are starting to do some early interacting. They are mouthing us and doing some licking, but I am very careful not to let them suck on my chin! I let a puppy from the last litter do that and in nothing flat I had a hickey on my chin!!! Try explaining that to your husband!! Those puppies can really suck!

Now that it looks like Lolo is here to stay, I wanted to share how hard her first two days were -- on me. I have never had such a small puppy before and I was convinced she would die. Yes, she was eating and behaving in normal ways and the vet assured me she was fine but I guess I did not believe it. And so I found myself not wanting to hold her or kiss her or in any way be attached to her.

And then I realized what I was doing -- withholding from her because I was sure she would leave. I have worked with babies and children at the end of their lives, and when I realized what I was doing to Lolo I felt ashamed. Of all people I should have known that the value of a life is not measured in time, and if Lolo's lifetime was destined to be short she was no less worthy of love than any other puppy. Indeed, Lolo deserved a lifetime of love -- whether that lifetime was to be measured in days or years.

It was a relief to realize this. Love is not an investment, one in which we consider what we will get back in return before we decide whether to give away our hearts. Rather, love is a gift -- given with trust and faith and without regard for a payback. Lolo's life -- no matter the length -- was reason enough for her to be valued and loved.

None of us are promised tomorrow, even puppies whose lives exist in a very sheltered world. Lolo's lesson is that when we protect our hearts from hurt, we also block joy. Did you ever imagine that having a litter of puppies would involve so many emotions and so many opportunities for life lessons?

Sometimes the best teachers do not say a word.