Nation : First Dog Keeps First Lady Home

First Lady Barbara Bush begged off a trip west with her husband today to stay at home in case the pregnant First Dog, Millie, gives birth.

An aide, however, said Mrs. Bush, who is nervous about being canine midwife for the first time, does not expect the pups to arrive until Sunday. “But that’s only her feeling,” the aide said. The quite-pregnant English springer spaniel is expected to produce eight puppies sometime between now and Tuesday.

Mrs. Bush also was not on hand to send her husband off as he left the White House for Colorado Springs, Colo., this morning. She was swimming in the outdoor White House pool at the time.