Monday Memories- Black Beauty Momma

Silver:  Any time NOW!!

I was up for over 24 hours by the time Silver finished having all her pups.  Prelabor started at 7am Jan. 1, 2008 with Silver pacing, whining and panting.  At 2:45am, Jan. 2, 2008 she gave birth to Zappa and the rest of the gang, ending with Fiona at 9:15 that same morning.

Silver had been laying down after puppy #4, and never moved until after she had Fiona.  When she popped up to go outside, we noticed the most amazing thing.  She had snapped back into the shape.  Her stretched skin was fit against her.  Amazing.  (Every new mom's dream...)  Just like that.  All of her skin snug against her sleek body except for a small bulge on the right side near the ribs, where we figured Fiona must have been.  She looked better than she did at two years old.  Her black fur was soft and silky and glistened when she moved.  She was so spunky and full of life, excited to get outside and run a bit.

The bulge where Fiona had been.

We were both so stunned at this miracle of the births and then to witness Silver beaming with happiness and this instant new body, well we were breathless.  With everything I've read about the birth of puppies, this beautiful detail was left out.  The sparkle that was in her eyes, the bounce in her step, the tender care and the beauty of being a mother, I never once read about it.  I read about the medical advice, the process, what to look for, what to do, but it never said anything about my Silver becoming this black beauty of motherhood.

We made it through 10 successful births, a blessing in itself, but what we discovered with Silver was the a jewel we could only discover for ourselves.

Look at the shine and sleekness!

And the cute newborns, of course!