San Fran - a trip to remember

A trip to remember!  Even more memorable was the week leading up to this trip.  Lucy had a fever on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but no other symptoms until the throwing up started on Wednesday.  By that night I was really worried - she was so sick and I couldn't figure out why!  This is why being a nurse can make you crazy sometimes - you think you know everything ha ha.  Thursday morning we went to the doctor and Lucy was even more sick and dehydrated.  They said she needed an IV & fluids.  The worst moments of my life followed as the IV took 3 attempts and I had to hold my screaming baby down along with 3 other people.  The doctor finally had success and my prayer was answered.  The fluid went in great and Lucy even perked up in the short amount of time.  Then they said okay we need a urine sample and we will just catheterize her really quick.  Hasn't this girl been through enough?  So again I had to hold her down and watch attempt after attempt after attempt with no success.  I couldn't believe it.  Lucy acted like she'd been tortured for 3 hours when they finally just sent us home to wait for a urine sample.  I made it to the car when I was finally able to just sob uncontrollably for a few minutes.  Being a parent and going through that was one of the hardest things I've ever done.  I have so much more empathy for parents watching their children go through test after test when their kids are hospitalized or have chronic illnesses.  It's so difficult - especially when they don't understand at all that everything you are doing is for their good.  It just hurts and they want it to stop.  We then waited 6 hours for Lucy to pee...it was the worst.  She was still throwing up, but also restless, yet wouldn't leave my lap - it was rough.  When she peed we cheered and brought her back to the doctor where we finally received a diagnosis.  Bladder infection.  I had my suspicions that's what it could've been (between me and google), but she wasn't displaying the exact symptoms to make me 100% convinced.  They gave her 2 shots of antibiotics right then and there (again as if she hadn't been through enough) and sent us home with a prescription and such relief that we knew WHAT was wrong and that our little girl was going to get better.  Thank you prayer and modern medicine.  One thing about kids is that they get sick fast, but they also get better fast.  And for that I am so grateful!  It might sound selfish, but we were really hoping Lucy would get better because we were leaving Sunday for San Francisco.  Of course if she'd been sick I would've stayed home with her and ate the cost of everything...so we were just glad that she was definitely feeling good enough to go when it was time to leave.

I was trying hard to be a strong momma!  She was not a happy camper as you can imagine

Crackers, apple juice, & Curious george - her first snack in 2 days!

This was her by the late evening - already feeling better!

Our flight left Sunday morning and we got into San Francisco pretty early.  I didn't really know what to expect, but I definitely picked up on a unique vibe to the place.  We loved eating at the one of a kind restaurants - I get really sick of the chains!  We had a grilled cheese at one local place that was made with ricotta cheese and had a layer of strawberry jam.  I was quite blown away!  And it's just food ha ha.  We were able to do a bay cruise and see the Golden Gate bridge, check out the sea lions on Pier 39, eat some grub at Hard Rock, and that night Lucy and I danced in the streets ha ha.  She is quite the city baby! 

On the bay cruise - the top of the boat spot lasted .2 seconds before the wind was literally going to blow us away so we had to go down below ha ha

When you have a baby you get on the plane first!  Which I'm not sure if it's helpful because it's more time you are stuck in one place trying to entertain them ha ha, but Lucy did really well

The sea lions were definitely a family favorite!  They are quite the characters - and according to Lucy they say "woof" ha ha

My little buddy at the Hard Rock! We let her have fries & more apple juice. We really felt bad she'd been so sick and actually lost weight. We let her go for it on this trip!

Lucy loves to dance!  If she hears music, as we often would walking around, she would want to spin in circles and wave her arms in the air.  It's so cute.  So I would be her dancing partner! 

Bryce was sent on this trip for a work conference so Lucy & I would get up first thing, go play and play, come back and turn the room pitch black so we could nap for about 2 hours, then Bryce would wake us up and we would go out and play some more!  Ha ha it was quite the adventure.  Lucy is my travel buddy & I was able to do pretty much whatever I wanted.  She attracts a lot of attention too so I talk to more people then I ever would by myself.  On Monday we went to the aquarium and we pretty much had the place to ourselves.  That was nice because Lucy could walk around and see everything without getting trampled.  I thought the octupus was pretty cool and Lucy loved the playful river otters.  That night we went shopping in Union Square & Chinatown.  I definitely could've skipped out on Chinatown.  I thought it was so odd & more than anything sketchy ha ha.  Bryce & I just blazed on through not really seeing much to look at!

Octupus - so weird to watch it move everywhere

The river otters also say "woof"

My unimpressed face ha ha

Let's get outta here!

Tuesday we went to the YB Gardens in downtown San Fran.  It was fun to see some actual greenery amongst all the buildings.  Lucy rode her first carousel and they had a children's play area complete with an awesome gym and maze.  We had a lot of fun at this place!  That night was the Giant's game.  My first MLB experience.  We tried the famous garlic fries - waaay too much garlic for our taste, but still tried them.  It was a very cool setting & atmosphere - we had a great time!

At the gardens

She learned how to say "horse" after this experience - she thought it was very fun!

2 of the cutest Giant's fans I've ever seen

Riding the Muni - we don't look like tourists at all do we?  Ha ha

AT&T park was right on the water!  It was a beautiful evening for a ball game

Lucy's first baseball game certificate - I'm so the mom who makes Bryce get things like these ha ha

Wednesday I took a long bus ride and only got a little lost to Golden Gate Park.  After getting a little nervous and a long walk later I found where I'd meant to get us.  We checked out where J.Lo's movie Wedding Planner was filmed and then to the California Academy of Science.  One of the coolest museums I've ever been to.  There was so much to do.  They even had a baby area for kids under 5 that Lucy and I got to check out for awhile.  I'm a nerd and like to go to museums so I was happy with this place.  That night we did some more walking around the city and checked out Ghiradelli.  I wasn't super impressed with the area/square/shopping, but the ice cream sunday definitely impressed me.  I was a pretty happy girl after that!

Lucy has ridden a bus more than most people ha ha that's how we like to get around the cities we visit

On the bridge in the baby area - she thought it was pretty neat

Patiently waiting for our sundae - the whole place smelled delicious

I love this husband of mine!

All happy with a tummy full of ice cream & hot fudge!  That's my girl

For our final day Lucy & I went to a place called the Exploritorium.  It was seriously a kid's dream place.  It's full of tinkering   I was super entertained as well, but it was a little over Lucy's head.  She still found things she liked though.  We ate fruit & doughnuts at the farmer's market until Bryce was done before we did some last minute sight seeing & eating.  Then it was time to go home!  Lucy was so funny on the flight home wearing her giant headphones, watching Frozen, & eating cheerios.  She sat perfectly still the entire way home.  It was tough getting back to reality - we needed another vacation to relax after playing so hard!  Bryce had a great experience at his conference too...until next time!

Conducting electricity...

Playing with sound waves

A great flier!