Mud Cakes and Wine

It took me some time to decide if I should write this post, but my overwhelming feeling is I need to share what happened to me. I hope that I can raise awareness of VBAC and the very rare chance of a uterus rupturing. I have had three children the first OEP was born via section at 42 weeks due to a missed breach, infact I never went into labour. ATM was successfully naturally delivered as they say by VBAC. Then we had ZAP...... I happily opted for VBAC the second time, I have two children and the last thing I needed was a section meaning I could not drive or lift for 6 weeks. I was told I was classed as high risk, in fact it was written on all my notes  and would be carefully monitored at all times during labour. So two weeks before my due date I woke in the middle of the night feeling rough and was violently ill. I could not get back to sleep due to the most terrible pain in my right hand side and back. I thought the pain in my side was from being so violently ill that I had pu...

It's been a while since I have written a meal plan let alone a new blog post, the combination of Mr MC&W new job, the two boys and expecting time just seemed to run away from us. We now are a family of five and I know I need to get more organised this year with three boys to look after and a hard working hubby.  Meals that can be prepared and cooked fast or can sit in a slow cooker or oven for a time with out burning or ending in disaster. I will be purchasing a few new cookbooks and selling some of my old ones as our meals need some inspiration.  Monday - Quorn and Noodle Stir Fry for the adults and Gammon, Mash and Peas for the boys Tuesday - Tuna Pasta Bake the boys will have cheesy pasta with green veg Wednesday - Sausage Casserole with jacket potato for everyone Thursday - Bacon, Potato and mushroom Gratin I will do for the boys but minus the mushrooms and serve with salad Friday - I am a big fan of Birds Eye Fish Sensations we will have th...

I wonder if I tell myself enough times I will realise that I am 33 very nearly 34 weeks pregnant and that means I only have 7 to 9 weeks max before the baby is born. Physically I am very aware, the bump is growing at a rather an alarming rate and the kicking is more and more powerful. It is the stage where you watch your top move with a mix of wonder, amazement, shock and a little bit of horror. The swelling has started, I already have my rings on a necklace, the lesson I learnt from baby number one. Do not leave trying to take your rings off until you are two weeks overdue and about to have an emergency c section, to put it politely it is the last thing you need. Think Dr and nurses in scrubs and soap!!!! I was beginning to wonder if the fire brigade would be called to cut the rings of my finger or worse still cut of my finger, I think you can sense the stress level at that point. Shoes are getting tighter and adding to the fun of trying to get them on and worse off I...

I have realised its been three weeks since I last managed to post a meal plan, it has been rather manic in the MC&W household. We are having building work, Mr MC&W has continued to be working away from home, we have all had the most horrid colds and I am now 28 weeks pregnant. Shall we do a massive Meal Plan Catch up...... Deep breath and Lets go Week commencing Monday 21st September Monday - Chili I must admit I buy a packet of mix to do this with. Then stick it in the slow cooker and it's ready for me when the boys are asleep. They also had this and did seem to enjoy it as I chose a very mild one. Tuesday - Roasted Vegetable Pasta for me, I had a mix of courgette, peppers, red onions mixed in with pasta and some cheese grated on top. Boys had pasta with tomatoes and broccoli Wednesday - Chicken and Noodles for myself and the boys, I loved it but the boys hated it safe to say it was a total disaster. Thursday - Omelette's and chips for me and t...

It is the time of year that bulbs need to be planted ready for spring flowering, though Tulips are best planted in November. This year I have got lots of ideas..... As you're aware last spring I bought plants and made some displays in pots with differing levels of success, they did look pretty for example my Hyacinths looked stunning and smelt wonderful but fell over. I did not have the wow effect of spring flowers that I was looking for, one bluebell here with one daffodil there was not the result I wanted.  Last Years Spring Planting This year is all change and I have decided to go for bulbs and lots of colour. Part of the motivation is that the babies due date is the 1st January and it would be very lovely to have plants that would give us all some beauty with not too much effort. I have been doing some research as I wanted to improve the wildlife aspect to the garden and what I have found is very interesting. The fact that bright, yellow, beautiful daffodils do not have...

I am sat here as ever doing a last moment meal plan, honestly I have no idea where the time goes. The weather is wet and cold making every meal I want to cook be in the slow cooker or involve comfort in the form of cheese or red meat not the healthiest week. Again Mr MC&W is away Monday night to Friday night so all meals are for myself and the boys. Monday - sausage casserole with jacket potatoes for us all, this tends to be a mass use up of half tons of beans and chopped tomatoes or veggies that can be eaten up. Tuesday - left over lamb Ragu I always search online and make a mix of three or four different receipts I find Wednesday - Tuna Pasta Bake this is ultimate comfort food for me and contains lots of veggies like Peppers, mushrooms, sweet corn and anything else I have in the fridge. Thursday - stuffed peppers using quorn mince, rice, carrots all mixed together and then finished off in the oven with Parmesan on top and sErvec with salad. Friday - Fish and Chips wit...

We are a bit crazy in the Mud Cakes and Wine household, a few reasons, school and pre school are back, Mr MC&W is on a new work assignment he will be away from home Sunday night and returning late Friday night we only found this out late last week and it's for the next 8 weeks lastly we have a wonderful family wedding to get ready for. Food has to be easy this week and that can keep warm either in the slow cooker or normal cooker so I do not eat too late Monday - Jackets with baked beans and cheese for the three of us Tuesday - a simple pasta and broccoli gratin I can prepare earlier and buy in a cheese sauce then pop mine in a low oven ready for when the boys are down. The boys love broccoli, pasta and cheese sauce so I hope a winner. Wednesday - courgettes Mediterranean style this is one my mum made for us at home it's courgettes, haricot beans, chopped tomatoes all cooked and served with rice I will get pre cooked rice and pop the sauce in the slow cooker. The bo...