Cousin Sarah and I went to her first ultrasound today. Good news is the baby is healthy and everything like kidneys, brain, bones and heart are growing exactly as they should. Spine looks great. Yay! Everything is good. Except baby is all about stretched out, lounging in there, and got the umbilical cord positioned right between its legs. So we have no clue if Sarah is having a boy or a girl. That whole “help us name the baby” thing? Yep, we still don’t know if the baby should be Donnie or Donnie. hehe
Best part of today, for me, was that Sarah asked me to be with her at test. How cool is that?!??! We all know I won’t be giving birth (EVER), which means that it isn’t like I would ever have this opportunity to see a baby that I love before I can actually hold her.
Cracks me up that seeing the baby via ultrasound is kind of like talking to all of you guys. You are there, I just can’t hold you. 
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Oh, I pick Sarah up and we do an errand before heading to the hospital for the ultrasound. Park way close to the door because pregnant woman has to pee. REALLY has to pee. Seems that little errand and the drive was enough to have her bladder at capacity or something. We walk through the hospital, wait a week for the elevator, squeeze on with a kerjillion other people, ride to the fifth floor, walk all the way to the end, find the very last office which is Sarah’s doctor. The locked door. They are closed and can’t sign the paperwork, but the ultrasound folks don’t care about the paperwork. Problem is baby is causing Sarah to be about to pee herself. Of course I find this hysterical. Which gets Sarah to giggling. And waddling down the hall, into a different office, hollering that the pregnant lady is about to pee herself, do they have a bathroom. Sarah bolted as fast as she could into the back of the office, I stay and giggle with the women about pee your pants stories. Coz I am shy that way.
All of Thursday evening was spent at David’s Bridal. Dress after beautiful dress being brought out. Get naked, squeeze into the gorgeous white creation, rip it off and try on another. They were all so pretty, which to choose? Ahhhh, yes. The stunning simple and classic strapless gown. White and some sort of champagne color. Although there was another strapless gown which fit like a glove right off the rack…strapless and white with stunning red embroidered flowers. It was too difficult to actually make the decision last night, but after much thought and talking about it, it was easy to recognize the right dress for the occasion.
The occasion is a wedding in a little under a month. Not a huge wedding, less than 60 people, but still planning something that needs to happen in LESS than a month ain’t easy. Sure, many folks want to assist, but there is only so much that others can do. And the time frame is brutal.
But the groom is in the Marines, currently stationed in NC and volunteered for a second tour in Iraq. The military of course was happy to accommodate his request. He leaves in early September and cannot be given leave right before he goes. Leave for him can only happen the last week in June and he needs to be back in NC on the 30th. They won’t tell him yet exactly which day he can get his ass to Pittsburgh and PA law says both bride and groom must be present to fill out papers. After papers they must wait three days.
It is important for the wedding to happen before he leaves for Iraq. Which means the wedding will be on a Wednesday or a Thursday. A midweek wedding that needs to be planned in less than a month. On a less than shoestring budget.
Thankfully, I am only helping with this exciting event. I get to throw all kinds of ideas on the table and watch my beautiful young cousin sort through them. She is stressed, but doing a wonderful job with an overwhelming task. At 20 years of age so many folks would be unrealistic, even given the situation, but she is doing quite well. I am so proud of her for so many things.
And it is an honor to be able to assist with the cost of the dress. I’ll help in anyway that I can. Today, tomorrow and forever. Because she is family. But more importantly, she is a friend.
I love you pretty lady. Thank you for including me, for trusting me. I am thrilled to have the means to assist with the dress. You are beautiful and the dress compliments you perfectly. Know how proud I am of you for standing tall in the face of not one but four major life stresses.
You are doing a terrific job.
But you are not alone. Your family is here for you. ALWAYS.
We have your back. We will hold your hand. Even against something that seems as big as the ocean.
