Updates...all around!

Let's just do a little run through on some updates, shall we?  Let's start and go youngest to oldest.....

Dominic is doing well. He is constantly moving. I can now feel when it's an elbow or a knee vs just him rolling around/kicking me. I can't wait until that first time I see his heel or foot or hand imprint. That was my favorite part with Claire. Dominic's check ups have all gone well. I just took the glucose test about a week ago and have heard nothing, so that has to be good. I can't have anymore dietary restrictions, I just can't. I'll just die. I'll wither up into nothing (there may be slight drama in those sentences).  I did gain another 4 lbs, so that's up 8 lbs so far. we are at 27 1/2 weeks right now, so we shall see where this goes. I only gained 18 with Claire, so I only have about 10 more to go before I start freaking out. I have had many horrible dreams this pregnancy, and the further along I get, the worse they are getting, so that can stop any day now. We pray over my dreams every night. Eventually, my subconscious will have to surrender to the much higher power of my Jesus. Even my subconscious is stubborn. Oye!  I go to the dr again on the 3rd of December. I'll just 29 weeks then, and I'm going to be brave enough to ask for another ultrasound. I have been meaning to, but chicken out every time. I don't know why. I really want to see him again though. And honestly, I want to have my cervix measured. That is what unnerves me the most. Dominic loves salty, spicy foods. He loves sugar, and coca cola, and he really loves to move. Did I mention that already? No matter what time of day it is, he is pretty busy. When I wake up in the night, no matter what time, or how many times, he's pushing around in there, trying to get comfortable, or playing Wii bowling. I don't know. He's a busy little guy. I have to say though, it doesn't bother me one bit. I absolutely love it. I can't wait for him to move around again in the times he does settle down and "sleep" in there. Overall, I think everything is going so well for him. Thanking God every day for His promises of "yes, and amen".

Claire is doing great as well. She is convinced there is a "dominic" in her belly. To the point of while at the dr's yesterday, laying on the table while getting her diaper changed, she ask me if the "doc-or was going to check her dominic" while she rubbed her belly. I laughed so hard I almost peed (I know, I know, hard to believe...). There is no convincing her that Dominic is most definitely only inside my belly and it doesn't hurt. We've had a few issues with her belly lately, and have figured out that her acid reflux from days or yore has returned, and returned with a vengeance. There isn't a day, and most days, there isn't an hour that goes by that she isn't complaining that her belly hurts. She will point to her belly, or her sternum area. She has thrown up in her sleep....yes, her sleep lately. She doesn't even wake up. I find her when I go to bed covered in vomit and sleeping soundly. I have a video monitor. I'm obsessed with watching her on it. She doesn't make a peep, she doesn't even move. I find her gripping her stuffed animals and blankie in the exact position she goes down in. I am scared out of my mind that she will throw up and choke and stop breathing...to the point where I wake up multiple times in the night to check on her. We finally called the dr to figure out what else to do, and they have said hers is just so bad that she has to be on 2 different meds for now until it gets better. They are afraid of the same thing since her vomiting isn't even making her stir! We are trying to get her to sleep on her belly or her side, but after 2 1/2 yrs of sleeping on her back, she insists on sleeping on her back. We are practicing with her though, because it's better for her reflux, and her mommy's sanity. She also doesn't digest her food normally. It takes FOREVER for her to digest, which is why she's not gaining a ton of weight, has terrible constipation, and terrible acid reflux. When she throws up, 9 hours after a meal and it's contents are still inside her stomach, that's a bad thing. There is nothing to really do for it though, and most likely, she won't outgrow it. Obviously, I'm aware things could be much much worse. It's just acid reflux, but I still hate that my baby is in pain and has to be on all this medication. I'm looking up natural ways to speed up digestion, hoping this will help with many of her issues.

I'm doing well. Huge. Hard to breath. Always nausea. Most days have a headache. And can't remember the last time I got more than 6 hours of sleep. I love every single bit of it. I'll be sad when I'm not pregnant, but happy just the same with Dominic safe on the outside. I'm nervous as anything to get to the end and give birth. I'm so scared of what it's going to be like to hold a, God willing, healthy, crying baby boy. The last time giving birth and holding my children was so wretched, I'm not sure how my emotions are going to handle it. I do know, every time I think about it, I cry. I'm scared something will go wrong last minute. I'm scared I won't get to take Dominic home. I'm scared I will take Dominic home and everyone will forget about the 3 beautiful children between Claire and Dominic's births. Already people say things like "oh a boy and a girl, just perfect". I know it's not really their intention to be cutting like that, but I can't help the urge of wanting to punch them in the face for even thinking such a thing. No, I have 3 boys and 2 girls. No one would make that comment if all my children were living here with me. Instead, I smile politely and walk away. Honestly, one of these days I won't be able to hold back. I will word vomit on them. I know I will. Nathan, Malia, and Anthony Jr's lives may mean nothing to them, but to me, they changed my every makeup of who I am. They have changed my family forever. They have changed my view of family, and what it means to me. They are never out of my mind, and never will be. I have more than 2 children. I have more than just a boy and a girl. I pray I'm never insensitive and always aware that there is more to people's stories than what you see in a physical picture at that moment.

My husband is doing great too. He's my rock. Most days. Some days I want to hit him with a rock, but I know it's just my hormones. Blame it on the baby. (I kid....mostly...) He assures me that everything will be ok. We pray constantly together for Dominic and for his health and growth. We thank God every day for allowing us to be pregnant again and to hopefully bring this baby home to raise and love and play with. He works hard to make sure he's home and has a beautiful relationship with our children. He's always thinking of ways to include the triplets into things as I am. I love his tender heart. He has masterminded a plan to have our house paid off in less than 2 years. It's brilliance. In this plan, it will mean that I will stay home with our children someday much sooner than I planned. It isn't something most people would pick because there are sacrifices involved, but the sacrifices are for such a short time, that it doesn't seem that big of a deal. My problem is I want to never stop doing all we do to help others and live comfortable lives, so selfishly I work for those reasons. With his plan though, we will still do all we are doing, and won't notice a difference at all by the time I am staying home and the house is paid off. I'm so proud of how disciplined he is with our money, and I'm so proud of his financial genius that moves the numbers around to always work them in our favor. Of coarse, we attribute all of this to God and His faithfulness to us in our faithfulness to Him. I wouldn't want to leave that major detail out.

Well, that about sums it up. Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away, and I have to battle the crazy's at the grocery store to pick up a lot of the ingredients for dishes I'm making yet. We always do Thanksgiving at our house and this year, we are doing most of the cooking too. My husband's request. As long as no one interrupts my parade, I'll do whatever they want. Just don't speak or move or breath loudly during the parade (again, I kid....sort of...).

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day everyone, and remember who the giver of all Good things is.