Einatmen, ausatmen Dear all, Well, we are at a bit of a standstill, regarding Karl. This pneumonia is holding on tightly, and although he has received a very hard-nosed antibiotic since Saturday, only today has the infection level gone down. However, he still has so much mucous in those tiny little lungs that he will need the breathing tube for even another week. This is discouraging for me, and for poor Karl. I can't help but think that when that thing is out, we will see more spark from the little boy. But to take it out too early could be, in a word, fatal. So. However, he is opening those beautiful blue eyes more often and wider, his extremities are not as taut as they have been, and it is clear to all that he reacts to voices. Yesterday he even got to suck on some melted chocolate, and that mouth which will not open for suctioning sure did for my finger! Regarding his eyes, a friend of mine just happens to be an eye doctor in this hospital, and I asked her if she would come by to take a peek at Karl. She did today, and believed that there is no damage to the left eye, and perhaps a bit of bleeding in the right, which could suggest that he might have some vision problems in it. Overall, she was very optimistic, although she said that only with time will we know how he will coordinate visual images. As she turned to type in her report into the computer, Karl opened his eyes. "Erika," I cried, "look at my beautiful boy!" She ran over, and we both cried and told Karl what sunshine we were seeing from his beautiful blues. When we were in the birthing classes, the midwife told us that when the pain gets too bad during labor, just "einatmen, ausatmen," which means "breathe in, breathe out." We are now experiencing another birth, also filled with anxiety and yet hope, and I have had to recall her words daily. I beg for prayers that this infection ends, and that this breathing comes out as quickly as possible, but not too soon. Much thanks and love, anna Visit my other links: