leaving the nicu

After 21 days Riley Grace left the NICU at Chandler Regional Hospital today. It will be difficult to properly recognize everyone in the NICU that had a significant impact on us these past two weeks, but here goes.

Thank you to everyone that prayed for Riley Grace. God answered your prayers and sent a host of angels to protect her. He also sent a whole bunch of caring, loving, people. His people.

Thank you Dr. Zozobrado our advocate and fellow adoptive dad. We will remember forever what you said to us the night of her birth and everything that you did for her.

Thank you Dr. Stola our dear friend and fellow adoptive mom. We will never forget the tears that we cried together. You are amazing.

Thank you Joan, Deb, Laura and Tracy our nurse practitioners. How you do all you do is still a mystery to us.

Thank you to all of Riley's nurses. Thank you Sepna for teaching Riley Grace (and her parents) how to be feisty. You were there in a big way on Cry Thursday and Emotional Breakdown Friday. Thanks to Dawn for being so kind and understanding. Thank you Erin for sharing so many milestones that I can't remember them all. You always seemed to be there when a tube or hose was removed. Thank you Cennille for all the bows. Thank you Allie, even though you were never Riley's nurse. How was it that you were still always there for us? Thank you Vicki, Pat, Sandi, Karen, Theresa, Kathy, Jean, Kelly, Ashley and Holly.

Now get back to work.