Does anyone know a good eye doctor?

NOT in Wisconsin...

We're hanging out in IL while Pete is on vacation in Texas. As you can see, the weather is a lot nicer here than it is in Northern Wisconsin. We planned to go home today, but we're waiting for the storm to pass before we head north! Above is Fischer, Grandma Nede and cousins (Lexi, Austin & Isaac Ebert) on a hayride with Grandpa Larry.

Bring on those smiles....

Jenn took some great pics of Stanley at daycare....


Superman & Super-Stan

Go back to work, Pete!

The new Pampers bikini diaper!!

FIscher and I went to jump in the shower one morning and this is what I found when I took his PJ's off. Pete had changed his diaper before bed and somehow squeezed him into one of Stanley's diapers. Pete had no idea until he saw the picture..

Pete's first day solo with 2 kids while I went to the gym.... think i'll send them to Grandma's next time!!! You would think he could find SOMETHING to do around the house!

The bridge to nowhere

Pete, Fischer, and Nede played in the woods on a nice Sunday afternoon. This is a private bridge in the middle of one of Pete's logging jobs.

Finally home

That was a long 6 days.  After multiple attempts last night and early this morning, Stanley finally passed his oxygen test.   We got home late this morning and he's been doing very well.  I'm hoping for a good nights sleep,  but we have to watch his breathing, so we'll see.
Fischer has been hilarious - he was really a trooper through all of this, but he's so happy today to have everyone home.  He's spent most of the last 10 days with Grandma Nede, so we're gonna rock his world one more time tomorrow when she heads for home:(
Thanks to all of you for the thoughts, prayers, visits, etc.  Little Stanley scared the heck out of us and the support we received from friends and family was amazing.  Special thanks also to the MHC nurses and docs... they were awesome.

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So close...

Stanley had a good morning so they weaned the oxygen.  The numbers were looking so good that they finally removed the tubes.  Unfortunately he wasn't quite ready.  The oxygen level needs to stay over 92 and he was dropping into the 80's.  So he's back on the minimum setting and doing very well.  It's just gonna take a little longer, so we're not going home tonight,  but still looking good for tomorrow.  It was so nice to see him without the tubes in his nose,  so I'm feeling pretty bummed.   But just a minor setback - he's gonna be fine!

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Another good day

I had to post this picture of my nephew Drew ... cracks me up every time I look at it... and we've seen enough pictures of sick Stanley!
Anyway... Stinky Stanley finally had a sponge bath tonight. I was concerned that his stench was contributing to his breathing problems:)  We're still feeling really good about his progress. They have now turned the oxygen down 2 notches and he's maintaining good numbers.  He's gotten very good at pulling out the oxygen tube when I'm not looking.  When he does the alarm goes off... so he's obviously not ready to be without support; but with a slow wean we might get out of here this weekend!! 

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That's a big bed for a little guy...

Great news tonight... Stanley is improving on many levels. His lungs are gunky, but don't seem to be any worse and maybe better. (They're so tiny they're difficult to assess ) Still no fever and excellent appetite. The "belly breathing" or stomach retractions have lessened ... so breathing is getting easier. We're still waiting for his heartrate to stabilize, but it's coming down slowly. At times he spikes over 200 (when he's mad at me for sucking snot out of his nose) but he recovers nicely. Today he's averaging 150-165... but we've caught him many times in the 140s. If after his next nebulizer treatment he can maintain 140-150, they will start weaning him off the oxygen tonight.
Cheers and prayers for Stanley!!!!! Sounds like he has a challenging couple of days ahead ... he has to show these nice nurses and Dr. Amy how tough he is before they'll let him go!
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How did this happen?

Stanley and Fischer were both doing great. Sunday night we had cake and ice cream to celebrate Pete's birthday. We were getting 12" of snow so we enjoyed a night at home. By midnight Stanley started showing signs of difficulty breathing, then an ugly cough set in. With all the snow the clinic was a mess, not to mention getting there was a problem.... but we were able to get Stanley in to see a dr Monday morning. Stanley was diagnosed with rsv and admitted to the hospital because his oxygen levels were dangerously low. Today will be our 3rd day here. I apologize for the lack of updates ... we just haven't had any ... he's been "stable" but with a virus we just have to give it time and it's still hard to tell if he's improving. Stanley is maintaining his oxygen level very well with support. They can't start weaning him off until his breathing rate starts returning to normal. (Now it's twice what it should be) He's eating very well and NOT running a fever so those are both very good signs. He seems much less distressed to me in the last 12hours. We both slept a good 4 hours last night ... that felt good! Stanley is getting nebulizer treatments with albuterol every 4 hours and his lungs are pretty clogged ... but the mucus is breaking up and we're sucking out snot every chance we get. I hate to get my hopes up too high yet, but he seems to me like he's finally showing improvement. The doc should be in this morning so i'll try to keep his progress updated via this blog. Thanks to all for the thoughts, prayers, visits etc. Last we heard we're going to be here a few days yet. Oh and Fischer is back to his silly self... in the midst of this he ended up at the clinic monday also ... double ear infection and fever. But he's home with Grandma and bounced back in no time! Check back later.... i'll keep this updated!

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