San Francisco

Our family just got back from a lightning trip to San Francisco.  Lee had another research conference where he got to present a poster and - more importantly - we had friends in the area that we hadn't seen in about 2 years!

(Left to right: Kaela, Lee, Kristin, Jon, Lawrence, Dawna, Danielle)

We flew from Boston to SF, nonstop, on Thursday evening.  We were worried because the plane was so full and it looked like we were going to have our two seats and none others for Kaela to play around in.  Nevertheless, we asked at the gate if there were any open rows they could move us to.  No, well, yes, there is this row that the crew has reserved in the back, but no, they want to keep that.   Hey!  There's that row in the front, we could move them to.  In short, we soon found ourselves upgraded (for free!) to business class - two feet of leg/run room, three seats, free meals, movies and just about anything we could ask for.  When we realized how little Kaela could sit still, we knew the Lord was watching over us.

Once there, we got our rental car - which they had no compacts, so they gave us a  bright blue PT Cruiser instead - and made it to Jon and Danielle's house really late.  That night we slept in the softest bed I've ever slept in.

Friday Lee didn't have conference, so we went way south and saw some elephant seals on a beach (picture that nearly 2 mile hike with 3 adults and 3 toddlers).  Then we picked up my sister Kimberly and Jon and had an amazing lunch from this little Mexican taco stand.  Oh, it was so good!  There is no good Mexican in Boston.  

We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge and then found a small private beach in the headlands just across from the bridge.  It was beautiful.

  I must admit, most of the day was in the car and Kaela's schedule was weirded out and she didn't sleep well, but we had a lot of fun.

Saturday Lee went to conference and it was our plan to do several things.  Then Kaela and I got sick, and Kimberly got really sick - we're pretty sure it was that amazing Mexican stuff.  

My beautiful sister Kimberly

I felt very helpless, as Kaela has rarely been sick and I had no idea what to do for a fever.  Danielle, mother of 2, and incredible, kept calm, helped give medicine to Kaela, give her a cool bath, calm her...  We were in good hands.

So, all in all, we went on a bike ride to the park that day, and that was it.  Kaela was still exhausted from the day before, and being sick and we all crashed that night.

Sunday we went to church, and Lee had a disappointing day at the conference.  We gathered at J&D's for the afternoon, before we had to fly out.  We swung by their new house, dropped Kimberly off and set for the airport and plane home.

The plane ride home was a red eye, planning to get in 5:45am so Lee could jet off to clinic and get there by 8:00am.   Well, it was delayed and delayed and all in all we got off the ground 10:45pm (1:45 our time) and got into boston at 7:15am.  Of that 6 hour flight, Kaela slept the first and last hours.  We were very tired. With bags, baby and all we didn't get home till almost 9, where Lee called his preceptor and was told not to come in till noon.  We gratefully slept.  Even now, I feel that we are just getting back into our schedules.