Family and Lulu's Chemotherapy

Today I'm thankful for...

Lulu's sister coming from Puerto Rico to help us

Safe passage to and from SF Great weather

Having a strong wife

I'm sitting here in the kitchen of my house looking out the window thinking about what a great life that I have. Even with a new born daughter in the intensive care unit and a wife enduring chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. I think that she would agree me me, all except for the having cancer part? The last two days we spent in San Francisco. We made the journey down on Wednesday getting to the SF airport around 10 PM to welcome Lulu's sister Doris and her daughter. This trip we're staying at a Holiday Inn at the Fisherman's wharf. (Lulu informed me that this beats the "Rusty Door" by a mile). I do have to say that the accommodations were much better than the noisy, old intercity hotel we stayed in last month. I as soon as I helped Lulu get the kids into bed (I slept with Thomas and Hamilton slept with Lulu, Carter slept in the adjoining room with his cousin Natalia; this was to rotate the next night), I feel fast asleep. Tomorrow was to be a day of family togetherness, and sharing each others company.

Thursday's sun broke through the hotel windows and woke us all around 6:30 AM. I was very much looking forward to today. I had planned on show my kids SF (None of them had ever been to the city before, as unbelievable as that might sound?) I had the idea that we should all go on a Cable car city tour first (this is the cars that have wheels and the driver narrates the local interests as he drives a predetermined route though the city), second we would eat lunch in one of the famed restaurants that over looks the bay (clam chowder for everyone in the sourdough bread bowl), thirdly we would see the sea lions at pier 39 (this turned out to be one of the favorites), next would be going to the aquarium at pier 39 (the kids loved seeing the sharks and touching the starfish), and after we eat some dinner we will have to go to Giradelli square on our way back to the room. One of the ways I know that Lulu and I have strengthened our relationship is; my wife didn't make last second changes to the above plan. She was really trying to allow me to tour guide the trip with out constantly changing the plans along the way. Sometimes you just need to allow others (especially spouses) make decisions even if you think that you might have a better plan! You know I've found that life is just more fun this way, and my marriage benefits when the spouses take turn making "The Plan". Lulu was to go a some point in the day (Thursday) to UCSF clinic to have her blood drawn for tomorrow's chemotherapy appointment, but we were having so much fun as a family that time slips by and she never got there. That would mean that we would have to get to the clinic in the morning when the lab opened at 7:30 AM.

The must difficult part of the trip was deciding who was to accompany Lulu to her oncology/chemotherapy appointment Friday? I made to suggestion that I have been (and will be at every medical appointment that Lulu is to have related to the sickness) so why did her sister take her to the appointment tomorrow? Ultimately the decision would rest with Lulu, but she wasn't up to the task. I knew that Doris really wanted to go with Lulu, and as much as I wanted to be with Lulu at every step of her care, I could step back this time so her sister could be there. I could see the stress that this situation was causing, and that Lulu didn't want to make the ultimate decision who would attend, so I did. I really wanted to be with Lulu for all the treatments, and I wanted to go with her? After most of the day wondering, it was final, I would accompany her to UCSF for the appointments. I was really looking forward to Friday's appointment. So I could see the oncologist's face when she did her exam on Lulu's breast, and hold her hand as the drugs were pumped into her body at the infusion appointment.