ec2-recursive-status-check.js

ec2.describeInstances(params, handleResponse);

function handleResponse(err, data){
 
 if (err) {
   console.log("Error", err);
   return;
 }
 else {
   var status = data.Reservations[0].Instances[0].State;
   console.log("Status: ", status);
   if (status != 'running') {
      ec2.describeInstances(params, handleResponse);
   }
   else {
      // hooray! do something else now
   }
 }
}