Growing Each Day

8 month old picture with Fiesta!
Watching the bocce games with Becky
Someone's thirsty!

Zachary had a great week. We think most of his fussiness and inability to nap well at day care was all the result of his new teeth. Yes... teeth! Last post we reported his first new tooth, and a few days later we saw the second one poking through! He now has two, both on the bottom and right next to each other in the middle of his mouth. He has returned to his wonderful sleeping ways, and his personality seems to grow each day. He definitely has certain things he loves to do, and his laughter is pretty contagious, as you can see in the video.

Physical therapy is progressing, slowly, but still progressing. We try to work with him as much as we can on our own, but it's difficult to do more than a few exercises with him before he seems to lose interest. It can be frustrating, but we're going to continue to work each day and help him improve little by little.

This past weekend Zachary had a good time at the end of season bocce championship, and it was nice for him to enjoy everyone's company for more than an hour! No big events, or appointments this week, just physical therapy on Wednesday and lots of play time with Mommy and Daddy! We hope you all are having a wonderful summer's end! God Bless - Brian + Kimmie

Mr. Toother

At Children's for the Spinal Defects Clinic

Practicing kneeling while playing on the stairs


Zachary has spent the past two weeks adjusting to his new schedule. With Mommy back to school, Zach now spends his weekdays at Theresa's house with a few other kids. He only had three days there last week, and it was a good introduction to both a new place and new people. He struggled a bit with his daytime naps, but by Friday seemed to be doing well. This week was his first full week at daycare, and he again adjusted nicely. We associated his napping troubles and some of his fussiness to the new routine and new environment, but Tuesday night we found what might be the real culprit.... Zach's first tooth!! He has a little nub poking through in the middle of his bottom gum, and loves to chomp down on his spoon during feedings with it! It has not raised up much from the gum line, so it's very difficult to get a good photo of it, so that will have to come later.

Overall, Zach is doing very well. The day before he began daycare he was at the spinal defects clinic. Medically, everything checked out wonderfully, and all of his tests came back perfectly normal. He was fitted for a new set of ankle foot orthotics (AFO's), the small braces he will wear to support his lower legs and ankles to better help him with standing and eventually walking. He was also prescribed a stander, which is an apparatus that holds Zachary upright, and supports his legs and back to further help him with developing his leg muscles for standing. Zach has also been seeing a physical therapist once a week for the past month or so, and those sessions have been progressing wonderfully as well. We now have a therapist who comes to the house, so it is much easier, and more time effective for us.

Life in the Zurliene household is ever changing, and we are thrilled that Zachary is doing so well, and pray for continued success and growth in his future. Our Love to You All - Brian + Kimmie

Baptized in the Water of Life

Zachary had a very BIG weekend. Saturday was his Baptism at Immaculate Conception. Fr. Don was so gracious to come down and perform the ceremony. It was wonderful to have our family and friends there to welcome Zachary into our faith community. Uncle Dana and Aunt Jodee were kind enough to agree to be Zachary's Godfather and Godmother. Fr. Don did a great job during the ceremony (as he always does), and we were very pleased to have him baptize our first child after marrying us five years ago. We had everyone over to the house afterward for some wonderful food that Mommy, Grandma, and Mimi all worked very hard to prepare. All-in-all, it was a wonderful day, and Zachary was great throughout. He was amazingly calm and not fussy at all even though he missed out on his afternoon nap. He must have known it was a special day, and did his best to entertain all who attended!

Mimi and Papa arrived on Monday, and Grandma arrived Thursday. Uncle Dana arrived Friday, and the house was full for most of the weekend. Zachary was a wonderful host, and enjoyed all the new faces to laugh and play with. He even learned a few new tricks from Grandma while she was here! Friday was Mommy's birthday, and she opened her presents and had cake yesterday to celebrate.

Uncle Dana had to head back home yesterday, and Grandma left for the airport a few hours ago. Zachary had a wonderful time with them while they were here and can't wait to see them again soon! Tomorrow, we are all off to Zachary's spinal defects clinic for his three month visit and a thorough examination. We are excited to see Zach's progress, and are optimistic his results will all be wonderful. We hope you enjoy the pictures, and we thank everyone for all their well wishes and support over Zach's big weekend. We welcome our "Little Fighter" into a life of Faith and Love with open arms and open hearts. Much Love and Blessings to you All - Brian + Kimmie

Back Home for the End of Summer

Zach and Cole
Our best effort to photo all the great grandkids!
Daddy and Zach on the M
Zach in the tractor wheel well

Mommy and Zach on the tractor
Just the three of us!
Cousin Ashley

The cousins
The girls
The Zurliene Family
Ready for the plane ride home
On the plane
Bradley

Megan

Ashley
Aunt Karla
Aunt Margie
With Brett waiting for the parade to start
Contemplating their pulling strategy

We are all back from our trip to Illinois, and we had a wonderful time visiting with everyone, and having Zachary introduce himself to all of his Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. We arrived late Thursday night and quickly settled in. Friday, Daddy went over to the Voss' to drive Great Grandpa's International M and get everything set for Saturday's tractor pull. Mommy and Zach made a brief appearance at the farm, but had to head back to the hotel for Zach's afternoon nap. Mommy and Daddy were able to enjoy a 5th Anniversary Dinner, and get some rest before a full day Saturday.

The tractor pull started Saturday morning and Papa pulled Great Grandpa's John Deere B just before the rain set in. After a lengthy delay they decided to cancel the pull, and try again Sunday. The rain finally stopped and Zachary was able to watch his first parade, the Mascoutah Homecoming Parade. He enjoyed all the floats, and was wide eyed throughout the entire hour and a half event. Too bad he doesn't have any teeth, or he could have enjoyed some of the candy that was so plentifully distributed by all the floats. Saturday night Daddy and all the Zurliene cousins headed out on the party bus and enjoyed a few of the local bars. Always a good time when the Zurliene's show up at any establishment!

Sunday was a family day. After Daddy pulled the M in the morning, we checked out of the hotel and headed to the Voss farm and enjoyed a wonderful picnic lunch with some delicious sweet corn fresh out of the field! After visiting with the family for a few hours, and Zachary blowing countless raspberries at everyone there, it was time to head off to the airport and fly back to Colorado.

Mimi and Papa flew to Colorado on Monday and they will be here for the next week to smother Zachary with lots of love and affection. Grandma arrives tomorrow, and Uncle Dana will be here Friday, so it is a very busy and full Zurliene household. Zachary did have an appointment with the Orthopedic surgeon yesterday and GOOD NEWS, he has been prescribed a set of orthotics! Hopefully, he can wear them during the day, and be out of his shoes whenever he is not sleeping. We Thank God for his wonderful progress, and all the small miracles in his life each and every day. We hope you enjoy all the photos, and we will update the blog again this weekend. Much Love and Blessings to you All!! - Brian + Kimmie

Hello From Illinois

Great Grandpa's M that Daddy is pulling this weekend
Hanging out at the hotel room

Just a quick post from Mascoutah, Illinois! Zachary, Mommy, and Daddy are all here for Homecoming, and visiting with Papa's family. Here's a couple of pics, and we will update everyone on the entire trip when we get back home!