She seems to have stopped panting. She just ate and drank some water too, which she does every time we go out there and she comes to see us. When I first when out there and noticed her panting, she came out from under the porch, which is enclosed on all sides, except for where the step is. When I went back out there after I posted my question, she came out from under my car. I'm thinking now that maybe she was just overheated from being under the porch with the kitty pile, and then when she was out in the fresh air for awhile, it cooled her down.

I have had a cardboard box out there for her since the day she had her kittens. Yes, she is laying in sand and leaves under the porch. The only way we can get the kittens out is to tear apart our deck, since it is bordered by the house on three sides. They are at the very back, by the wall of the house. We are waiting until the kittens come out on their own, since she obviously won't bring them out until then. At that time, we are considering locking them in the garage to keep them safe from the racoons and hawks and the like that inhabit our area.
I thought that cows milk is bad for cats, because it gives them diarrhea? I'm feeding her the Eukanuba kitten food, because it doesnt' contain fillers, especially corn gluten meal.
I'm concerned that we haven't been able to have any contact with the kittens, because we want to find homes for them. If we can't get to them to have them learn to use a litterbox, and be used to humans.....it will be difficult to find someone willing to take them.