Little Jordon is now 3 years old. He's a normal child, just hooked up to some tubes. The tubes are there to help him breathe and eat.

"He's a real people person," said his mother, Lori Ehli. "He gets frustrated sometimes, but doesn't let things get him down."

Things are getting better for Jordon, because on April 10, 2007, he was able to come home from the hospital, where he has 24-hour nursing care.

"It's still a constant battle," said his father, Scott Blocker. "He has no immune system and gets shots every day."

Jordon was born prematurely on May 7, 2005, and he suffers from a chronic lung disease called bronchopulmonary dysplasia. When the Bismarck hospitals couldn't provide him with the necessary care, he and his parents moved to the Minneapolis area.

"With brand new nurses and a brand new home, it was a little overwhelming for Jordon," said Ehli of living at home.

But as his father said, "He's come a long way."

Jordon used to be at a breathing rate of 28, it's now down to 23. Twenty is normal.

"Once his breathing is down to 20, he'll do more breathing, and be able to roam free," said Ehli.

But the biggest problem, said Blocker, is his weight. At age 3, he is only 20 pounds. "The more weight he carries, the better his lungs will grow," he said.

Blocker and Ehli are hoping he will be good when they make their return visit to Bismarck on June 10.

"We decided to come back and visit to give people a chance to see him," said Blocker.

Even though family and friends aren't able to see Jordon when he's in Minneapolis, Blocker and Ehli try to keep everyone up to date with CaringBridge, which is a free, personalized Web site that supports and connects loved ones during critical illness, treatment and recovery. They are able to write in a journal about how his days are and show pictures from birth until now.

An open house will be held for family and friends from 4:30 to 8 p.m. June 13 at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites, 3001 N. 15th St., which is where they will stay.

Ehli's mother, Linnea Ehli, will be putting on the party.

Lori Ehli said she hopes to show Jordon around Bismarck, and of course take him to the zoo.

"When we come to Bismarck, we'll have to bring so much stuff," said Ehli. And when Jordon goes around the zoo, Ehli will have to push him around in a stroller that holds all his equipment.

Blocker and Ehli said they are trying to help Jordon be a normal kid. "We take him out when it's nice, and try to keep positive," said Ehli.

"It's stressful no matter what. You feel bad for him when he can't run and go free," she said.

But they are making the best out of their living situation in Minneapolis. The doctors said they can't move back to Bismarck until Jordon is completely off the machines, and they're hoping that will be when he's 5 or 6.

(To read the stories about Jordon, go to the article search box at www.bismarcktribune.com and enter Jordon Ehli-Blocker.)