35+5 Weeks, Goodbye Cookie

Yep, it's a late post and the next one is due on Friday so it'll be a mix and the next one will be a short one :)

We've just spent a fantastic holiday week (babymoon) in Hanmer, our Christmas present from Hamish's parents.  It was so nice to have some peace and quiet, blob and do nothing, sleep in and in general be lazy.  We went to the hot pools a couple of times (yes I stayed in the cooler ones, 37 degrees and below), went to a neat farm park where we fed the animals and got a horse and cart ride back to our chalet, ate out a few times and did lots of reading and crosswords.  We stayed in a self contained wood-cabin type chalet, fully equipped with spa bath that we used every day hehe love my baths.  The place was lovely and in a perfect location with excellent service.  www.chaletsmotel.co.nz

We walked into the town centre a couple of times but although it was only a 10-15 minute walk, it was difficult with a nearly 3kg lump putting pressure on my bladder so ended up driving the short trip most of the time.  Have started getting groin pain when rolling over in bed so that task has been made even more difficult too!

Sadly after our awesome week we arrived home to our cat Cookie quite unwell and had to put her to sleep at seven years of age due to respiratory failure.  We've had her cremated and are still deciding on what to do with her ashes.  She will be missed very much.

Getting huge now.  Even maternity clothes are getting tight lol.  Our bouncing boy is perfect size for his gestation and is still lying on my right side, head down bum up so have to try to get him to move towards the front or left side or risk him turning posterior which will make for a harder labour.

My blood pressure is still on the low side of normal which is great!  Have only had minimal swelling in hands and feet.  Had my 36 week bloods done yesterday (CBC and iron stores) and a urine test as had some white blood cells on the midwifes dipstick thing, but feeling well and no symptoms of a UTI.

Have a few stretchmarks now. The most noticeable ones are at the sides of my waist and have a couple on the front of my belly.  With four weeks to go I'm guessing I'll only get more!