More Puppies and Final Football Season

Is there anything cuter than an arm full of puppies? Maybe a new baby, but my grand daughters are half way around the world, so I have to settle for these lovable little faces, my grand puppies. They are already bigger than this picture shows, because now they have been weaned, so that means Dipity is done feeding and cleaning up after them, and believe me if someone could invent a puppy diaper that they wouldn't tear up, they would make a fortune!

The puppies have become chow hounds that are pooping machines, and little monsters with very sharp teeth. But they are sooooo sweet when they are asleep. There is definitely truth in the old adage, "Let sleeping dogs lie."

Here they are all crammed into the lid of a box. They love playing in, on, and chewing on boxes. It is like playground equipment for puppies. They also like running, sniffing wild outside.
This is Madison, or Maddie, the little girl that was lucky number seven to be born, and the one that looks the most like her Mother, Dipity, with the white stripe down her nose. We are pretty sure this is the little girl we will keep.
These sad sacks want their freedom to roam free too. Only when you put six puppies down, they go in six different directions. But it is really hard not to give these sad little blue eyes whatever they want.

Besides taking care of, cleaning up after, and playing with puppies, we have started the Illini football season. This is Katy's last year, and as a senior, she is now in the front row. The first game was the Arch Rivalry Game in St. Louis again against Missouri. And they once again, beat us, but it was closer that we thought, since we were ahead the first three quarters. Here is Katy at the game with one proud Dad.

After the game we drove like crazy to get home to pick up Dip and family, and head for the lake house for Labor Day Weekend. Last year Dip was a smashing success at the game shaking her tiger, but this year she had to stay home and feed the puppies, much to her disappointment. She was quite put out that she couldn't stay at the hotel. However, when Katy and Rich joined us at the lake, all was forgiven.

Last week we completely weaned the pups, so Dipity got to go to the first home game against SIU, which Illinois won big! This was the halftime score! ILL-INI! She strutted her jersey and collar to the tailgate, and loved sleeping in the motel bed without six puppies hanging on her. We had the chance to finally meet Rich's parents for the first time in almost a year of Katy and Rich dating. They were very nice, and we look forward to getting to know them better. As I was writing this, Katy called to say her new car just came in, so we will definitely see them again this weekend after the NIU game. Rich's father, ordered her new car.

Other things have happened, but I'd rather remember puppies and football, than the sadness of losing a dear, Aunt, or the worry of a very ill cousin. These and other little problems I will leave in God's hands, because there is nothing I can do but pray for those in need. There is nothing I can do about my parent's dog that is ill, or that my dear grand daughter had a worm! So I will put the dear little puppies that are in my care for a few more weeks to bed, and trust that God will care for the others that are beyond my control. I do love puppy breath when grand daughter kisses are just a memory......

The Big Apple and the Little Pups

We just returned from our annual trip to Broadway Monday afternoon. We saw eight shows and they were all wonderful in different ways. It was one of the best years for musicals and big name stars, that we've seen lately. Before we went, I was worried about leaving Dipity who would be due with her puppies while we were gone, so I hadn't gotten too excited about what we were seeing, but the shows were outstanding. We saw, "The Addams Family", "La Cage", "Memphis", "A Little Night Music", "Come Fly With Me", "Lend Me a Tenor", "Million Dollar Quartet", and "Promises, Promises." Sean Hayes, who is from Glen Ellyn, came out to talk to us, as well as many other stars, including the entire cast of "Lend Me a Tenor". Backstage tours after the show are great.

At home, Dipity went into labor, so during "Million Dollar Quartet" and "Promises, Promises" my phone would vibrate, but I couldn't answer the texts or see the pictures that were being sent to me until intermission or after the shows. Thanks to our wonderful tech Jennifer, and Katy and Kitty who came to hold her paw, Dip had seven healthy pups on Sunday. Three girls and four boys, and we were thrilled and couldn't wait to get home. Monday we flew home, and after the airlines getting us here a half an hour late, we rushed to the hospital to see our momma and her new pups, only to sadly find out that fifteen minutes before we got there, she had accidentally crushed one of the little boys. Dipity was thrilled to see us, and was very proud of her kids, in spite of losing one, which she didn't understand. We got them home safely, and have been on puppy watch non-stop ever since. She has been a very good momma, except she keeps trying to encircle her pups under her to keep them safe, thus why the one was crushed. They are getting bigger everyday, so I hope soon they will be able to fend for themselves once their eyes open. Now they just blindly climb over each other which is pretty funny to watch, but then I might just be slap happy from lack of sleep.Steve and I have been taking turns making sure she doesn't lay on another one. Getting only three hours a sleep a night is taking its tow for sure. They are all growing and today got their little tails cuts and dew claws removed. This was taken before they got their little tails cut.

Aren't they adorable? Tomorrow they make their first trip to the lake where many of the neighbors want to see them. Our friend, John, is coming for the weekend, and Rob and Katy are coming too, so I hope I can get some sleep so we can enjoy the weekend. And it could get cooler, too. 100 degree heat index outside, with a heat lamp on the pups inside is too much heat for me!