Dr. Gioia Visits!

July 10th

Melissa Gioia -- the resident who took care of me while I was in the hospital in Phoenix and delivered the babies-- came to visit me and the babies for a weekend. We had so much fun with her here. It felt like she had been a part of our lives forever! She slept on our couch, helped me sweep the nasty floor after meal times, refereed baby meltdowns, was a baby jungle gym all with a smile on her face. It was a quick weekend, but we squeezed in a girls night as well!

Melissa & Ellen
Mitchell, Sidney, Luke, Brie, Ivy

Mitchell & Ivy on Melissa
(The babies would "run" to the couch and want to crawl on her!)

Peek-a-Boo Brie

Girls Night
Ellen, Susan, Amy, Brie, Melissa
(p.s. Brie is Briellen's namesake.)

Just writing this post makes me reflect on my time in Phoenix (10 weeks of it in the hospital!) Melissa was there for me the entire time, not only as my doctor but as my friend... Whether to take out my c-section staples because I was afraid or make a special trip into the hospital to do my D&C or visit me in the NICU almost daily. She even organized a girls dinner at a trendy restaurant when I was out of the hospital and missing my "normal" life.

Although she did make my life miserable at times, i.e. too much magnesium, the dreaded pessary, I can not even imagine what it would have been like without her. Everyday she came to see me and measure the babies heartbeats, to chat, to assure me that I didn't have MRSA, to give me the scoop on shopping, boys and current events. Everyday she was there to encourage me that I could make it one more day.

Thanks, Melissa, for everything that you did for me! Love you!

Melissa in Phoenix
Mitchell, Sidney, Briellen, Luke, Ivy

Melissa & Me on One of Her Day's Off

Delivery Day w/ Huge Belly!