This week, four years ago

This week I've mostly been reminiscing, as this week four years ago our lives as a married couple were about to change dramatically, our first child was about to be born.

We knew that our baby (the sex was unknown) was to arrive on 28th December 2007.  We knew this date for about 10 days in advance because our firstborn was to be delivered via Cesarean Section, it was breech, and despite our best efforts that child was not for moving.

I was disappointed at first because I had the idea of a perfect natural delivery in my mind, but then I just returned to feeling excited.  I was excited that we were about to become a mammy and a daddy, excited because my sister and brother in law would be down for their annual visit so would be here to meet their new niece or nephew, my sister's first time of being a proper aunty, from her side of the family. I was just plain excited about everything.

We decided it would be best to only tell immediate family that the baby would be arriving on 28th, so whilst the future grandparents and aunties and uncles knew, to everyone else it was to be a surprise.

My last day at work was when I was 37 weeks +1 day. This date also coincideded with a friends wedding, so I said goodbye to all my work colleagues, came home to rest my swollen feet then headed back out to a wedding reception!  I promised that I wouldn't steal the brides thunder by having my waters break on the dance floor, and that if I went into labour I wouldn't let anyone know until after the first dance.  All went to plan, the wedding was beautiful and the baby stayed put.

20/12/07 - 38 weeks pregnant and just 8 days before baby was born

I made the most of those last baby free days; we were happy, stress free and excited.

25th December

Over the holiday period Adam was off work so we were able to do as we pleased.  On the 25th December, three days before the birth, we took a walk along the river Tyne and over the Millennium Bridge.

We took another trip into Newcastle on 26th December, to buy a CD of the number one single for the week our child was to be born, sadly it was nothing really inspiring, as it was X Factor winner Leon Jackson with the single 'When You Believe', the number one album was also the previous years X Factor winner - Leona Lewis.

Thursday 27th December

The evening before the imminent arrival we attended our Kingdom Hall for usual Thursday evening worship, I was looking quite big and fat by this point, but still no one there knew that the very next day we'd be parents.

Then the big day arrived, we didn't have to be at the hospital until 1pm, so had a slow start to the day.  I wasn't allowed to eat, so had a drink of water then had a long lazy bath whilst Adam walked to the local Newsagents to buy a newspaper for the day of the birth.  The news wasn't too inspiring that day, the main headline was the death of former Pakistani Democrat Socialist, Benazir Bhutto.  The sports headlines were regarding the arrest of Joey Barton after an 'altercation' in Liverpool.

However it didn't really matter what the headlines were, what the popular music was, all that mattered was that at 2.25pm Samuel Adam McGregor arrived safely and healthily into the world, and we became parents for the very first time.

Oh how time flies by...!

Michelle x

Silent Sunday

One week, no words:

My Favourite Dresses - Part 1

I read a lot of Blogs in which the writer shows us one of her favourite outfits of the week, I really love reading what they have to say and looking at their lovely clothes.

At the current time I'm still a bit of a frump from having my second child... 18 months on (oh the shame).  I'm not wearing maternity items anymore, but I am wearing whatever will hide my 'mummy tummy'.  My SAHM uniform usually consists of Jeans and a long jumper or top.  No one wants to see these boring, dull clothes, but I thought I might share pictures of some of my former fav's, which maybe one day I'll be wearing again.

My all time favourite dress has to be my wedding dress. 

The Dress:

It was an ivory, silk, bias cut, spaghetti strapped dress, with a cowl neckline, fishtail train and beading that crossed over the body and down to the end of the train.  This dress came from Monsoon.  It isn't the most expensive item of clothing I've ever owned as it only cost £120, but I fell in love with it from the first moment I saw it, and loved it even more once I tried it on.  My mother would have liked me to have had a big, 'poofy' dress, to appease her I did try some on, but they just weren't for me, I just adored this one and always came back to it no matter what else I tried.  This dress was worn for approximately 10 hours, 8 years ago, it will never be worn again, it may well never fit again, but it will be loved forever. I see pictures of myself in this dress everyday, and it always makes me smile.

What I wore with this dress:

As we were married in February I needed to stay warm, so had a custom made faux fur cape to wear over my dress.  It was so lovely and warm, the only issue was it put fluff all over my new husbands dark grey suit!

I also stepped out in style with these kitten heeled slingback shoes from John Lewis, they were beautiful with diamante detailing on the clasp.  And amazingly, for wedding shoes, they were comfortable too.

So folks, that's my first, and favourite, outfit which was worn for the one and only time on 7th February 2007.

I'll *try* to make this feature at least a monthly highlight on my blog, and who knows it might inspire me to try to shift that flabby tummy and wear some of the outfits again (although I don't think it will be this one).

Michelle x

Silent Sunday

One week, no words:

SPD - The Pregnancy Pain

When I fell pregnant with James I expected to experience a very similar 9 months to that which I experienced when I had Sam two years earlier; a little sickness, a lot of tiredness, and a few headaches. Little did I know that my second pregnancy would be nothing like my first.


I remember at a 25 week meeting with my consultant I got chatting to a poor woman in the waiting room who was walking very gingerly with crutches.  We got chatting and she told me she was suffering with Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD), I didn't really know what this was, but I soon would.


On odd occasions from about 4 months pregnant if I'd been on my feet all day that evening my hips would hurt, but I wasn't really surprised, I just put it down to the fact that my body was complaining.

Then at 7 months pregnant everything changed, just a few weeks after meeting that poor ill woman, I became her.  One April morning I was getting dressed while Mr McGregor and Sam were downstairs starting breakfast, I was trying to tidy away laundry as I got out what I needed as I was in a rush.  I felt a little pop in my back, it hurt, so I stopped for a moment.  The pain passed so I decided to get out my socks from the bottom drawer, then it really popped, I couldn't move, I was stuck on my knees on my bedroom floor in agony.

The rest of the morning is a painful blur, Adam calling work to say he wouldn't be in today as I was having 'a problem', me arguing that I'd be OK in a few minutes, which I wasn't.  Ultimately a call was made to our local maternity unit, they asked us to come in, but as I literally couldn't move an ambulance was called.

Three, yes three, wonderful paramedics filled me with entanox (gas and air) whilst Adam practically carried me down the staircase to the awaiting ambulance, and off we went to the hospital.

I spent the rest of the day, and night, in a pre labour ward.  It was eventually determined that I too had SPD.

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction is a condition that causes excessive movement of the pubic symphysis, either anterior or lateral, as well as associated pain, possibly because of a misalignment of the pelvis. SPD is a dysfunction that is associated with pelvic girdle pain and the names are often used interchangeably. For more information check out this wikipedia article

After spending almost two days in hospital, being seen by Consultants and Physio Therapists, having received exercises to attempt, strong painkillers, two types of brace supports and a pair of crutches I was sent home.

For the next 8 weeks of pregnancy I spent every day with a babysitter, either my husband, a family member or close friends, they looked after Sam, cooked meals, loaded the washing machine, ironed, and cleaned our house as I couldn't bend, lift or walk without a LOT of pain.  I am so grateful to the help we received and would never have coped without the love that was shown to us in so many ways.

Whenever I did have to go out it was only whilst wearing a tubi-grip bandage under my clothes, a Velcro support brace over my clothes and with my crutches.

At 38 weeks, with only one 'hidden' support on before the others were added

Once James was born and my hormones settled down things did start to improve, I was able to lift up my babies, walk a distance, play and do housework.  18 months on from his birth, I do still sometimes suffer from pain, or my leg will sometimes just give way, but I know it could have been so much worse.  I still sometimes see a Physio Therapist, and that helps. 

12 hours after James' birth and things started to improve

I've been told that I was very fortunate not to have suffered for longer during my pregnancy, and with any subsequent pregnancies the issue would raise its ugly painful head from conception until birth, and likely beyond.  This was sad news to receive, but I'm so grateful that this only happened in my second pregnancy and not the first as who knows if we'd have gone on to have James if I'd suffered like I did whilst pregnant with Sam.

SPD was a condition I'd never really heard of or considered until I had it.  It hurt me, and gave our family a very hard time, but it also taught me how wonderful my family and friends are, because they all rallied around us, so for that I am grateful!

Michelle x

Eek, I feel like a proper writer! :oP

Why do I feel this way? Well its because Tesco Baby Club asked if I'd like to write a guest blog post for them, me, I know, I'm not a proper writer.

Anyway after getting over a serious case of writers block, I started writing, they liked what they read and now its on their website. I know that to some it might not seem much, but I'm so exited and proud of myself!

Why not check it out here : Tesco baby club blog

Michelle x

Silent Sunday

One week, one picture, no words

Sausage Casserole

I love easy, one pot dishes, and my sausage casserole is almost top of the list as its easy, delicious, and my boys love it too.

Recipe:

8 Bramley Apple & Pork Sausages
1 Onion
2 Peppers
10 Button Mushrooms
3 Carrots
5 Potatoes
Chicken Gravy Granules
Herbs du Provence
Water

Method:

Pre heat the oven to 180°c

Roughly chop all the veg, cut the sausages into 3 pieces and throw them all into an oven proof dish.

Sprinkle over the herbs (amount to taste) and add the gravy granules.

Pour in a little cold water.

Finely slice the potatoes and place them on top of the dish.

Cover the dish with a lid or tin foil and cook for an hour, or until everything its cooked. Then remove the lid and bake for a further 15 minutes to allow the potatoes to crisp up a little.

Delicious, even if I say so myself!

Enjoy, Michelle x

The Gallery - My Awesome Photo

This week Tara over at Sticky Fingers asked us to show her our bestest, most awesome photos.

Most of the awesome pictures we have displayed in our home were taken by my gorgeous and talented husband, but as I didnt want to cheat, I had to find a picture that I took myself.

Then I remembered about a picture that I took whilst we were on holiday in the summer, it was one that I was rather proud of, and that my husband said he really liked.  What I think is special about it is that the colours look amazing, and it is completely natural, no editting on photoshop, no messing about.  It was just me and the camera lying on the ground to get it just right, I hope you like it too!

Silent Sunday