Heyo! Welcome to my monthly blog post. What a crazy past month!

Remember how I was whining about losing my job last month? Well, I managed to find another one–actually, a BETTER one. It’s a commute into Seattle, and it pays a little less, but the nursing home is POSH. I haven’t missed my old job one bit, actually. Ha!

All in all, I was really only out of a job for about a week. And thank God I happened to be home, because something nuts happened–a faulty, now recalled valve exploded off a water pipe in our upstairs bathroom one morning when I was at home, sewing in the basement. I couldn’t turn the water off because the valve was gone, and, panicking, called my helpful neighbor Roxy, who sent her autistic son over to turn it off (FYI the shut-off was in the garage, NOW I KNOW).

Maybe 20 minutes passed, during which time the water shot out of the pipe like a cannon, flooding the upstairs bathroom, going through the floor and the ceiling down into the living room. And apparently even further into the wine cellar area. Lord.

This all happened about two days before we had scheduled our one friggin’ family vacation this year–to Priest Lake. We weren’t gonna miss it!

And so we went! Again, good timing, because the “water mitigators” set up about 40 giant, noisy and hot fans during the 4 days we were on vacation to dry up as much water as possible before sending out the damage report to our insurance company.

Total damage: about 8,000$ worth. Yep. Ugh.

Then began the lengthy ordeal of trying to get someone over here in a timely fashion to repair our home. And by timely, I mean like BEFORE THE BABY ARRIVES IN OCTOBER.

Everybody and their mom was booked up. We made call after call. Finally by chance, Josh met someone at a granite store whose boyfriend was available to do the work, and he just finished this past week.

Priest Lake was fabulous. Thanks to the efforts (and $$$) of my sister-in-law, we now have the family cabin back in the family again, and we can use it every summer. Yayyyyy!

Bear Schnubs on guard. It was Maggie’s last trip to the cabin, and she definitely had a hard time getting around. I think she had a nice time floating in the lake.

I didn’t join the boys in the rowboat, due to my annoying third trimester habit of having to pee every hour. Sigh.

Goo had no interest in swimming last year but this year was different! Every morning around 9 he was ready to get in that lake water. Sweet little boy.

I managed to flop my big ol’ pregnant body into an inner tube and go floating a few times.

On the last night, we roasted s’mores. Pants, as you can see: optional.

I am currently 36 weeks and 2 days pregnant! Time is starting to fly.

This is going to be a hard week. We have an appointment to put Maggie down on the 28th, this Saturday.

I was crying on the phone making the appointment. I won’t be able to go, so Josh is taking her. I will tell her goodbye at the house.

It has been an awful decision to make, but her arthritis is so bad, her incontinence is getting worse and worse and what do I do? Prolong her shitty life for a few more months and then have to deal with taking care of my aging dog AND a new baby AND a toddler at the same time? I can’t do it.

Thank God I will have this little dude to cheer me up on Saturday. And Bear Cub. And Josh. I have a good team.

Love.

I um…have no idea how much weight I’ve gained. Again, I chickened out just like last time. I figure right before I get induced I’ll step on the scale and see what the damage is. UGH.

I’m about three weeks away from giving birth now. No plantar fasciitis! Hallelujah! Just random sciatic hip pain that feels like someone is stabbing me with a hot poker.

I FINALLY finished the two baby blankets for my new baby, good grief. And I’ve almost organized all of his clothes. Nesting has been more challenging since he won’t have his own room.

Josh very sweetly threw me a little “sprinkle” at his grandmother’s house. With only 2 weeks notice, I only invited about 9 people, and then only 3 showed up, so it was REALLY small, but lovely.

The best part (aside from the donuts) was that I finally got to hold Espe’s new baby, who is now 4 months old!!! He giggled the whole time I held him. And he smelled delicious.

Here is a shot from the maternity photos Josh took of me at 29 weeks. I didn’t edit this at all, and my “fat arm” is on full display here. My left arm has cellulite! OMG! I hope I can eventually tame it away. Somehow.

Goo has been jealous of Mommy’s painted toenails and requested his own painted so often I bought him his own set, peel-off of course. Kid-friendly. It comes off in bathwater!

My mother thinks I’m bigger this time around. Who can say? I’m just a big pregnant gal.

All walks with Maggie now are bittersweet, knowing they are coming to an end. I’m taking Friday off from work to have Special Maggie Day. We will go to the beach, eat Dairy Queen and cheeseburgers for dinner. Sigh.

Now I have to start going in weekly for non-stress tests, just like before. No need to drink ice water to stimulate this little guy–he moves just great on his own!

And he’s perfect. Just look at those luscious lips. Can’t wait to meet him.

Awwww sweet Maggie, you are such a good girl. DAMMIT WHY DO DOGS HAVE TO GET OLD. Well blog, until next time.