As The Progesterone Rises

It seems odd to have my family following Claire’s progesterone level but they are — and in case you are as well, here you go:

Friday: 0.47

Saturday: 1.16

When the progesterone is in the neighborhood of 2.0, the family can reasonably begin planning our long awaited family adventure/reunion/Oh Hell tournament.

I like multi-purpose trips, and this one will check a lot of fun boxes.

Claire’s progesterone will be evaluated again this morning. The magic number of 2.0ish means we are about two days from ovulation; we expect her progesterone level will be 4 - 5ish at ovulation. However, in dogs the eggs need to mature before fertilization can happen and so we add two more days before the first breeding date; progesterone will be 10 - 20 by that time.

In other words, when the progesterone is 2ish we have four days to get where we are going — and the family party planning can commence in earnest.

Something else — that magic 2.0 will also set the litter due date.

Progesterone of 2.0ish = Day 0

Day 0 + 65 = Litter Due Date

I expect 2.0 either today or tomorrow — my preference, in case anyone high up is listening, is tomorrow.

Therefore, if all goes well and we have puppies, they will arrive on November 12 or November 13.

WHEW.

In the meantime, please enjoy these Sparkle photos taken by Galen last weekend while we await the next episode of As The Progesterone Rises.

And have a fantastic day!

The Power of Apology

Two things happened this week. Actually, many things happened this week but my reactions to two prompted some interesting insight.

I love insight! Usually.

The first thing happened at work. A person made a mistake that impacted me in a significant way.

The second thing happened on my bike ride to work.

There is a bike path/bike lanes all the way to campus and so I have been driving halfway, and biking the rest. It means about 28 miles round trip on the bike, which sounds like a lot but is actually not all that much on a bike and I LOVE riding — plus I am saving on gas, getting my exercise, don’t have to buy a parking permit, spending less at Starbucks, and can feel smug and self-righteous about those things. A total winning situation.

Anyway, I was happily pedaling along in the right of way across an intersection when a car cut me off, forcing me to slam on the brakes to avoid crashing into him.

I rode on around him, thinking indignant thoughts.

Then the car came along side of me. The driver rolled down his window and yelled, "I’m sorry!”

I went from being seriously annoyed to amazed at the power of those words. In fact, I mused about it all the way to work — obviously I still am.

The contrast with the work situation was stark.

Making a mistake means that we are still a human being on this earth. It is evidence that we have not actually died and gone to the Great Beyond, just in case there was any question about that.

Therefore, it is a wee bit puzzling to me when attacks — not sincere apologies — are the response to noting evidence of human imperfection.

The driver of that car almost ran me over — and yet, he made my whole day better.

Other people respond to their mistakes by attacking — as if I am somehow at fault for noting that it is wrong to cheat at a dog show or to point out an error that impacts MY paycheck.

People are so interesting. And educational. Including me.

Why do I continue to be so surprised and hurt when people blow up at me for pointing out an obvious mistake THEY made?

Not everyone has the whatever it takes to own a mistake and invite Grace. I should know that. But I just keep expecting that they do, and then I am hurt and disappointed when they don’t. Clearly, I am still human.

I think we should strive to be more like that driver — well, except the part where he almost ran me over in an intersection. He made a mistake, owned it, apologized, and now I wish we could be friends because he is clearly an awesome human being.

Isn’t Life — and the humans who live it — so interesting?

Best Laid Plans

Daisy also came in season over the weekend. She will not be bred (think 101 Dalmatians, Berner-style — shudder) but this means she will also NOT be in the Helena draft test. Bummer.

When thinking about the cost of breeding a litter, I suspect most do not factor in the lost opportunity costs that come with intact/bred girls.

September has some of my favorite shows — Montana shows! — and we will not be showing. As I waited (and waited) for Claire to come in season, I missed other favorite events, hesitant to enter because I did not want to throw away entry money.

Now Daisy cannot do the one event I was hoping to do in September. Sigh. I am about to inform Sparkle that she will have to step in for this one.

Another great Sparkle shot by Galen.

This year is about breeding the next generation — I accept that. But that doesn’t mean I am thrilled about the lost opportunities.

But like all seasons of life, this one is temporary. Not fun — but temporary. And that is a hopeful thought.

It will all be worth it if the breeding is successful and Claire has a litter of bouncing baby berners in mid-November. The theme is picked out, the “nursery” planned, and now we just need those babies.

Progesterone testing starts today.

I hope you have a great day, free of blood tests!