Happy and Home!

Well...Nicolas ended up with a little pneumonia...but once again

our tough guy has fought through...As of Friday he still has some

fluid in his lungs but no sign of infection...so they said if we felt

comfortable caring for Nico we could go home...We made it

home just in time to celebrate his 2nd birthday! Garrett and I

rushed out and picked up a cake some ice cream and Garrett

personalized a balloon for him...It was small but special and

a celebration to say the least! Every moment spent with that

boy is an absolute blessing...words cannot express how amazing

he is!

Please continue to pray for us and for our little guy...He was

put on oxygen again and more than he has been on before...he

is still in a fragile state...so I will not be returning to work just

yet...we have to be extra careful in our efforts to prevent any

further illness! Faith and prayer can move mountains and we

believe in the strength of God's healing hands!

Here are some pictures from his birthday! Enjoy...we did!

Love Always,

Jake, Felisa, Garrett and Nicolas

Completing The Tour of Fort Wayne Hospitals!

Well...it was a good run...but we had to take Nico to the hospital yesterday. Valentine's night Nico seemed to have some trouble breathing, was very congested and had a fever of 101.8. Motrin brought it down pretty quickly and a few breathing treatments seemed to help some but we had to put him on oxygen overnight. With that being said, I thought he should be seen by his pediatrician. So yesterday afternoon we went to see Dr. O'Brien...he tried a breathing treatment but ended up sending us to Lutheran Main (South)...he wanted us to go to a hospital that has a PICU...just in case....but right now we are in Peds room 329. He has an IV pushing extra fluids, antibiotics, and a steroid...they have taken blood samples to check for dehydration...and a chest x-ray...So far the chest x-ray shows that he has Bronchiolitis...this is an inflammation of the bronchioles which is typically virus related.

He looks pretty good... We are hoping to be home prior to Nicolas' 2nd birthday on Friday...but time will tell!

Pray for a speedy recovery and no additional infections!

Much Love,

Felisa

WE LOVE THE COLTS!

We will head over to Papa's later on today to cheer on our Colt's!

We're all having a fun weekend and doing good!

Have fun and be safe...whatever you do!

Much love,

The Stein Family

Happy New Year!

Well a lot has happened...

Nicolas successfully fought off pneumonia without being hospitalized! He has had a couple colds and gotten through those just fine as well. AND....Last night he had a sleep study at Riley...I was pretty excited on my way home because overnight they never had to put him on oxygen! We got home around 9am and by 12 the doctor was calling! She said she was so pleased and thrilled with the results that she had to call....NICOLAS DOES NOT NEED TO BE ON OXYGEN!!!! She wants us to hold onto though...because when he gets a cold or congested sometimes he needs the assistance! Nicolas also is receiving Respite Care...A nurse comes to our home and watches Nicolas 3 times a week while I work, play Nicolas' secretary, and play with Garrett...my cousin Megan Leichty is one of his nurses and Stephanie is the other...We are thankful to have them...Mom and Peggy now are scheduled to watch him 1 day a week...AND they help us at other times too! We are so blessed to have such wonderful care for Nicolas!

Garrett started basketball and scored the first two points of the season! 12 ft. jumper! Pretty exciting! He has practices on Fridays and games on Saturdays. We also found out he is going to need braces....but before he gets those he has to wear headgear (at night only) and a splint (all day) for 6 months...these are meant to push four molars back into the jawline...they came out too far...He also has what is called tongue thrust...so we are working on him to keep that long tongue of his on the roof of his mouth and not pushing on his front teeth... If he doesn't learn to keep his tongue back then they'll put little spikes on the backside of his teeth to gently (HA) remind him to keep it back....I think we all agree...Nobody wants that!

Jake has been doing a little traveling with work...but he is doing a great job balancing home and work! Not gonna lie...it's a lot more fun having him home! He is very entertaining! On December 17th Jake and I celebrated 4 years of marriage...We celebrated at home with Garrett and Nicolas...We ate sushi and watched the Colts win on Jake's new flat screen plasma tv...It was a wonderful evening!

As for me...what can I say...

1. On December 29th I had my 4 wisdom teeth pulled...and yes, I did get dry sockets! In fact I got them so bad I'm still dealing with them. My head hurts and my teeth ache on a daily basis and every week I go get them repacked.

2. If you read the papers/watch the news...you'll hear information about Ft. Wayne Community Schools and the closing/reopening of 11 different schools...Well, I work at one of those. We don't know much...they don't have many answers for us right now...but I do know I will have to reapply/interview for my job...along with anyone else who wants it....and only 50% of the staff will be rehired. I work hard, enjoy my job (even on the hard days), I've passed national standards (NAEYC) and had my classroom approved by Early Childhood Alliance: Paths to Quality, I've presented at local, State, and National Conferences, I have worked on the Committee and designed a Summer Calendar for ALL incoming FWCS Kindergartners for 5 years now (working on 6 right now) and every year my children show growth...So I'm saddened by the fact that I have to tell them/convince them that I should be valued as a FWCS employee, considered for the Pre-K position and desired to teach in room 155...the same room I've been in for 9 years! When many MANY left years ago...

Anyways...I know I'm not the only teacher who feels this way... BUT I will say, as uncertain as the future is, I will continue to teach to the best of my ability...the rest is in God's hands and what is meant to be will be...I'm not going to worry about what I can't control.

3. I have also had some stomach issues...so I went to see the doctor yesterday and she asked how much stress do I have in my life...I just laughed... Well, it's nothing a little Zantac or Tums won't cure...Sorry Nicolas but you probably get the reflux from your mother!

4. House plans are coming along and Showings on our current home are picking up...but no buyers yet.

Well...between the job and my teeth...and other added stress...it really doesn't mean much considering I have a Healthy baby boy off oxygen, a thriving young man that is very caring, and an entertaining husband! Life is never dull...and I'm thankful for that!

We go to Riley February 1st! I'll write more then!

Much Love,

Felisa

Road Trip to Minnesota

This past weekend Garrett, Nicolas and I traveled to Minnesota along with Kimra, her children, and Mema (my mom) and Papa. We went to Duluth to visit with family and for the funeral of Steve Wark. He is my cousin and was 58 years old. He died of cancer within 2 months of being diagnosed. I have very fond memories of time spent with him and his family...Christmas and dinner at Perkins....and camping in our backyard...to name a few... But what I want to tell you is Steve was good person, a good husband and father, and he led an amazing faith driven life...and though that may not mean much to those that don't know him...This weekend I witnessed the most inspiring funeral I have ever been to...We laughed, we cried, it was uplifting and inspiring...During the sermon, the preacher had asked us to close our eyes and if we never had before prayed the following prayer (paraphrased) to feel free to join in...it went something like...

Jesus is the son of God. He is my Savior...The truth. The light. The way. He saved me from my sins so that I may live with him in Heaven forever!

Well, I had Nicolas' hands folded together and I prayed this prayer for me and for him...and as tears fell from my face I knew I wasn't the only one praying. The pastor asked for those who prayed to raise their hands so that he may pray for them... Well, Garrett at first was timid and slowly raised it inch by inch until charged and confident his arm burst into the air! His cousin Jack hugged him immediately! My sister saw this, as she was sitting next to them, and cried. Later he said, "Mom, I want to go to Heaven." and as we talked about this he asked, "Am I going to get baptized?" So I told him what that meant and that it was his decision to make. And he said, "I want to be baptized!" I'm filled with an unspeakable sense of pride and joy. I plan to start making arrangements for this and to have Nicolas dedicated as well.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving and head into the Christmas holiday I want to focus even more intently on what we are truly celebrating and what the birth of the precious baby Jesus has meant for my life, my family, my friends and for everyone who truly believes. Thank you God for the many gifts you have given me but most importantly...thank you for sending your son!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Felisa

Here are some photos from our trip!

Why do kids make everything look so easy?

OK...so here's the scoop....When your 11-year asks you..."Mom, do you want to try my Razor Powerwing Scooter"... Say, "NO...they're DEATH TRAPS"...One minute you're doing a 360 and the next your parallel with the ground! I have no broken bones (Xray proven)...Other than feeling like I was hit by a Mac truck...Oh and feeling like an idiot...I think my 1st question to Garrett was "Did anyone else see that?" His response, "Are you crying?" I said "No" like an annoyed 10 year old! Anyways...I only have a few scrapes on my elbow and a couple bruises. Sure sign that I'm not as young as I once was! Remember when stuff like that was fun...and we couldn't wait to do it again? Or sleeping on the ground and waking refreshed? Gone are those days...

Tonight I am icing Garrett's birthday cake! He turned 11 on November 2nd and tomorrow we are having a party with friends and family. We are going to my school and playing basketball! I told Garrett if I miss my shots it is only because I got hurt on his scooter...but if anyone who reads this actually watched me play in high school...well they would know...missing shots was part of my game! So here's hoping it helps my game! HA! I'll post pictures soon!

11...my they grow up fast!

Love Always,

Felisa

Happy Halloween!