I do need to begin with an update on Elias. We saw the doctor twice this week. After all the tests came back from his follow-up blood work last week, the doctors were still rather concerned with his lack of progress toward healing. So, they asked us to come back Tuesday to get another x-ray view of his lung which showed that there was still a significant amount of fluid in his lung. At that point they decided to wait until Friday to do another blood test to see if there was any more progress. If not, the possibility for them to admit him again for IV antibiotics was pretty high. But, we returned for more blood work yesterday and his levels looked a bit better. The doctor was also impressed with Elias’ energy level. Needless to say, Elias was relieved and overjoyed with the fact that he didn’t have to go back to the hospital. We will follow-up with his doctor again next week & another blood test. He’s getting pretty good at them even though he still “cries just a little bit.”
The “more than a pneumonia update” part is much more exciting… We’ve finally made plans to return to Mesa for a visit. The boys have spring break from school at the end of March & Ryan is doing his triathlon in Havasu again this year, so we thought it would make for a great time to get the trailer back out for a road trip. We’re planning to head to Havasu March 17th, then on to Boulder City, NV to see Granny & Grandpa John (and allow Ryan to work a couple of days in Vegas) March 21st. Then we’ll drive to Mesa on March 24th and stay through the 30th-ish. We would love to see as many friends as possible that week. Please let us know if you & your kids are available for a play date. Of course, we’ll be enjoying some Barro’s on at least a couple of occasions and we’d love for you to join us. We’re also looking forward to seeing some sun while we’re there, so if you could work on drying everything up over then next month that would be much appreciated. 
It seems Arizona has received more rain over the last week than we have here in Seattle. How… ironic.
Yesterday marks 2 weeks since Elias was admitted to Seattle Children’s Hospital with Pneumonia. He finished up his last antibiotic yesterday and had another follow-up appointment with his doctor today. He’s been a bit more energetic, eating & sleeping pretty well so we were hoping to start sending him to school (for at least half-days) starting next week. But despite these good signs, this Pneumonia is proving to be a bit harder to kick than we expected. The doctor ordered a follow-up X-ray & blood work which indicated that even though he is getting better, the progress is still very slow. He still needs a lot of rest and we need to watch him closely for fever or any difficulties breathing. Your continued prayers for his complete healing are much appreciated!
Last week this time we were gearing up for our 3rd night in the hospital and still not sure when Elias was going to be coming home. He was released from the hospital on Monday and has been under the close care of his loving mother and Grandma Donna. He has been back to see the Dr. twice since being home and is on the right path for recovery. He didn’t go to school (hopefully that is obvious) and we still aren’t sure when he will have the energy for that. Full recovery from severe pneumonia can take upwards of 4-6 weeks… that just seems crazy to me. We are very blessed to have access to great medical care. It is so good to just have him back at home. He certainly looks weak and lost several pounds which his slight build didn’t really have many to spare. Thank you for the ongoing prayers, concern and love.
Day 3 (Saturday) – Elias started feeling a few degrees better last night around 10pm. He was able to get some sleep in 2 hour stretches in-between needing to go to the bathroom and being interrupted by medical staff. I stayed the night with him and Jen got some much needed rest. This morning a line-up of doctors with different specialties came to visit and evaluate his classic case (general care dr., surgeon, pulmonologist). Every one seems to agree that he is getting better but that the road to recovery is going to take a while. Right now it does not look like the fluid is too great or of the pussy kind that would require draining. So the good news = he is taking steps in the right direction. The bad news = he could be in the hospital for a week (or more).
Elias’ two most commonly used phrases right now: 1. “I want my mommy” 2. “I just want to go home”
We appreciate the ongoing prayers. I also have an ever growing appreciation for medicine and our place in history and placement in the world. If Elias were sick just roughly 70 years ago, the antibiotics necessary for his recovery would not have been discovered and in use. Until even more recently (our parent’s generation) it had also been common practice and belief that pneumonia can be hastened in onset and recovery based on the relative humidity of the cliamate. Our doctor’s family moved her from Minnesota to Arizona as a child to aid her recovery from a severe battle with pneumonia. Unfortunately for those of you who miss us in AZ, this is not truely a factor in. Here is some breif and interesting contextual reading.