A brief update, Tracy has been sick with diarrhea this week. Right
before that happened it looked like I'd be back on the list more but
this has been intense. We are supplementing Tracy's milk with formula
for puppies. Tomorrow will start a bit of semi-solid food (21 days!)

The puppies are in the transition week (as described by Rutherford and
Neil) and are just becoming aware of their environment. Their eyes are
only half open, and they can't walk far without tipping over. They are
trying to get to the edge of the cloth pad
to pee (still in the nest but I put newspapers there for a change in
footing). Some are trying to climb out of the nest. This is so
remarkable, how quickly they went from being unaware and looking like
seal pups, to yesterday and today being very definitely puppies. This
all happened over just about 5 days. Amazing.

They already would come to my hands a few days ago, before their eyes
opened (smell?). Now they're starting to be attracted to my face and
lick my cheeks and mouth. That is a real thrill for me, even though I
know it is instinct (they want me to throw up for them--isn't that sweet
:) ). It is so neat that they recognize a face as a face, even though
mine is human and Tracy's is dog.

They are developing head differences, and I don't know whether these are
at all predictive of their heads when they are adults. They all have
distinct stops right now. Some have definitely wider backskulls than
others, some appear to have shorter muzzle than others, though all of
them have shorter muzzles than backskull length right now. Their eyes
are being very slow to open completely, so I can't say anything about
relative eye size yet.

Really, I will get puppy pictures soon. Also have recieved a stunningly
beautiful scanned photograph from Linda V.B. of her grandma as a little
girl with farm collie, it will go on the website--soon! It is wonderful.

Gina
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