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