A time to reflect while Nicole starts on a special journey

Guest post by David.....Today was a very special day for our extended family, but I am going to let Nicole tell the blog about what it is and how special special it really is. But, I wanted to make sure we remembered a few things about today because it says allot about the Legendre family. Nicole and I were up at 230-3 with her mom, texting and calling and texting, discussing and planning and hoping and praying. I spent a few hours this morning at the huge ochsner clinic in Covington and I got to see everyone from nurses to surgeons working with people and helping them heal and recover from whatever ails them. It made me sit and think about the doctors and nurses who were helping our family that morning, and how their professionalism and expertise is often set aside for gripes about health care costs and wait times. What wonders they do, and were doing for all of us at that very time a thousand miles away. After spending the day with their grandmother Susu, Nicole and I broke the news of her trip to the kids, which was met with tears and sadness but later understanding and happiness. We explained to them Mo's similar trip 6 1/2 years ago and how special that was for Nicole and me, as well as Monique, Susu, Emme and Erinn. And now, as I type this, Nicole is curled up on the couch of her 94 yr. old (i think) paternal grandfather Roland, one of my two grandfathers by marriage (none on my side). She is ending her day with the man who is partly (genetically) responsible for not only Lila and Bennett's special bond, but also the special bond that Nicole and Monique have as well as one very new one.
I am sure you know by now that Nicole is eagerly awaiting her 6 a.m. flight that will take her into another status level (aunt) that we have been longing and praying for via Monique and Phillip (no pressure on Jared and Erinn....yet). This whole day, from beginning to end, has been very atypical because of what has been going on. Even still, it has been a testament to the tradition and depth of the Legendre/Sievert family. No matter the pressure or calmness of the day, like I can with my parents I can always call on and count on the role models who allowed me to be a husband, brother, and now uncle. Two more children come into this world blessed with maternal great-grandparents, and I cannot wait to see the faces of all in the family - young and old - when we get a visit down south when the time is right.
Until then, and to make sure they always know, I just wanted to note how special I think this extended family is. Every family has flaws, just like every person, and while those of us linked by kinship rather than blood have our own great families, we all are very blessed to have come into this one.
Congrats to Mo and Phillip, and thanks to the great grandparents and Susu and G, as well as my parents and Erinn's family, for making this such a great welcoming group for our newest members.