Our first family holiday as a 3 was to the gorgeous Dominican Republic which we had booked a good year in advance using our BA air miles. Unfortunately on the run up to the holiday Thomas had been a little under the weather with temperatures and missed Jakes christening the day before, so we took him to out of hours at the hospital to check him over and just as well as he had a throat infection so needed some penicillin. Sunday we left at 10.45 and got to airport at 11.50 and headed for the business class lounge and had a small snack in a little kids room. It was a handy space to deal with him and let him roam for a bit before being confined again. Thomas walked around plane and slept an hour on me which took some persuading. We got to the hotel and he had fallen asleep in the car and crib was not ready even though we had booked it in, I got him to sleep on sofa bed as he was so knackered and it was like 1am and the cot bed was taking ages to setup and then I transferred him. His bed was setup up in the lounge area for the 10 days. They got us a kettle and bottle warmer and a steriliser which was handy. Plus a sun cream for Thomas and beach bag, massive t-shirt and sarong. Monday we woke around 6.50/7 and got up at 7.45 and gave medicine and breakfast around 8.15. There were black birds around the buffet. We went for a wander around then then Thomas slept 3.5 hours. We went to baby pool and used his new inflatable which he quite liked for a little bit We went to the Mexican for dinner and had cheesy tacos and a mango margarita. We met a Canadian couple who had a young son and had to get some spray as we sat (stupidly) near the water side and the mossies were a nightmare. Thomas was awake in night around 3.30/4 for 2 hours and in the end I went to give cuddles to get him back to sleep, it was very stormy that night. Tuesday awake around 8.45, we had breakfast then went in big pool and had a little cabana with a comfortable bed. We stayed there for the morning and it was lovely and warm. We had lunch in the buffet area (although lunch started to late for Thomas so he had pouches) and then went to bed. Rich was on Thomas watch so I sat by the pool ordered two burgers and a vodka cocktail, I brought back to the room and had lunch with Rich. I then headed back out and had ice cream, swim and sunbathed. Got to love all inclusive food! I went to meet the boys and had a snack for Thomas. We went to the nursery room for an hour (it was a nice nursery and you could leave kids there but we weren't quite ready do that at his age so we played in the baby room and the sand pit and then got ready for dinner. Thomas was all upset as I was think he was all out of routine and tired. I didn't feel 100% myself. Went to a Latin fusion restaurant and I had prawn ceviche and a steak with sauce. Thomas had a spaghetti bolognaise and seemed to enjoy. Overnight I came up in a cold sore which sucked big time. Wednesday our family concierge went to get me some zovirax. It was handy as they could do anything you asked them and we didn't generally ask for much but this was useful as my lip was so sore.

We headed for the beach and the ocean was gorgeous, it was wild but really stunning and gorgeous white sands.. Thomas enjoyed playing for a bit in it and trying to run into the sea. We then went to the pool which was further down the complex and on route back for a little swim about. We then headed back to kids pool and the boys went on the baby slides. We gave lunch in the restaurant and took some pics and people were dancing on surfboards in the pool. I went for a nap with Thomas as still felt rough and Rich bought pizza to me. When Thomas woke, we walked to the beach for another stroll. The buffet near the beach was not open until 6.30 so we went to the buffet within our complex and there were some cats around. One little s*** tried to grab food in Thomas's hand and scratched Thomas who screamed. I was a bit freaked out being in a foreign country and an animal scratching him but rabies is not common thankfully in this country. Thursday Thomas woke at 5 and he pulled the monitor down and awake when Rich went in. Got him back to sleep around 6.25 for 15 mins then noise woke him so not a great sleep. We had breakfast then went to pool and did lunch in the room. I got nachos and Rich hot dog day by pool and swim but Thomas woke early as overtired i think, we did meds and swim but he was not a happy bunny. We went to the nursery for an hour and Rich took for a walk and I got ready and then went to Vento. This was a lovely restaurant and I got shrimp and tuna but couldn't eat much. Thomas had chicken fajitas but deep fried and was a bit sick and over tired so not a winning combination.

On Friday, Thomas woke around 6.20/6.50 and we went to the beach breakfast buffet which was nice by the sea. We took pics and went to the pool and back to main one and gave Thomas his meds which he needed 3 times a day. We then had lunch and Rich had his leisure time and nachos but I had bad headache and felt very hot like i was running a temperature so we went to the onsite docs. We had insurance so there were lots of questions but they could claim directly so that was good. I had a really sore mouth (my gums were inflamed) so wasn't sure if this was the trigger and I don't think the doc really knew as well but was given some antibiotics so that was good. We went buffet and it was sushi night so Rich was happy. Thomas ate chicken and pasta and veg. Thomas was awake around 3 for 2 hours. The boy was really out of sorts with the time difference and change in routine. Saturday he woke 5ish and at 9 went for breakfast, medicines and then went to pool. At the kids pool we met a Spanish family and they gave him a coloured cheerio as he was on the scrounge as usual. We did a small buffet lunch and he had half a pouch and then bed but got woken by a knock on the door which was really annoying as they banged for ages.

On Sunday we went to beach buffet and beach and met a Brazilian family and Thomas played with girls and buckets. Nice girl took pics on the beach and went to pool and Thomas fell asleep on walk back, clearly knackered from his beach and pool time. We sat by the pool and he wouldn't sleep again after his short nap. We went to Vento again and had lobster rice and chicken and Thomas spag bol and met Evie and her family. She was a little older then Thomas and I had met her in the pool earlier in the day. Monday, awake around 7.10 went for breakfast and went in big pool with our cabana again, we went to nursery and met crazy Jase a little kid. We went to the room and gave meds and had lunch and he slept 3 hours with Rich. We went for a walk to the beach and dinner at tempiyaki place where he cooked food in front of us - rice beef chicken and veggie sat next to Canadian family. It was really yummy. Rich had a ear ache, we were not being very lucky with sickness on this holiday.

Tuesday breakfast went to baby zone nursery again and back to room and partially packed and fed Thomas then nap with me in the room. Rich went to docs as his ears was painful and we were flying in 2 days. He had to go offsite to get his ears checked by a specialist and they needed syringing. I took Thomas to the pool, beach and nursery then got us ready for dinner. I took Thomas to the Italian for dinner and ordered Rich some dinner a calzone as hoped he would be back soon or at least have some take away. The mossies were a pain yet again as near water. I spoke to Mexican guy and son met Jase and his mummy again. Rich then came and met us at the restaurant. He had been carted off in a taxi quite a way away and luckily had money and a credit card as they would not accept our insurance details so Rich had to reclaim once home. Wednesday we went to the beach for breakfast and play time. We left around 10.30 and went to pool for a splash and the back to baby pool. I went to room to pack and give Thomas meds and feed him. I went to beach and chilled on my own for the last time and I got small buffet lunch. We went to a mix grill place again for dinner and i got a big burger. It was lovely and had seafood options and grilled foods. Thomas was up 1-4.

Thursday went to breakfast and went for a walk to beach and the big pool.. got Thomas ready and lunch then we had to check out so we decided to put Thomas in nursery and he slept around 3 hours. We were just by the pool sunbathing, the first time together whilst the staff watched Thomas on the monitor. We got lunch and sunbathed and it was actually really nice and maybe we should of done it a few other times but as he was sick we wanted him to rest up in the room under our watch..Once he woke we played in the nursery for a bit and went to ATM to get some cash and then got ready. Our taxi was early and on the trip back to the airport we saw lots of people on trucks. We got 20 voucher for Wendy's as there was no business class and gave water to old people as we had spare. We found a little kids area and Thomas played in the pen and then we changed for bed as he was knackered now. There was a grumpy man on plane (clearly thought of his bad luck being sat next to a child in business class) but Thomas fell asleep quickly on me for most the trip. The man on the other hand was noisy and grunting most the way. I slept a bit but wasn't the most comfortable as you can imagine. When we landed, we got him changed and Rich got the car and home by 11, he fell asleep in the car. Dominican Republic was gorgeous but the trip was dampened by the sickness, I generally fell awful the first few days and just wanted to be sulking at home. The location and food was lovely and our room was great as well. We made the best of it with the sickness and general unsettledness of Thomas and sleeping at night.