Training your child

So, Danny and I have done some reading on the importance of training your child as they grow. . .

Well, I'm guessing that Tobie (the dog) has also done some of that same reading. Yesterday while Zeke was hanging out in his swing, she decided to start training him to play ball with her.









She very gently dropped the ball directly next to him in the swing and then waited for him to throw it. I'm not sure how long she would have waited. :)

I then had to tell her to he wasn't quite ready to play catch with her and to retrieve her ball as seen by this picture as Zeke looked on.

We also had some visitors with his two cousins and friend. I thought they were coming to hang out with me but I think I was mistaken. :)

Danny's Blog

Check out Danny's blog by clicking the link on the right! He posted a cool article about a crazy word. I think you might like it. :)

And, here is a cute picture just because I love him! :)

Another day at home

Hanging out in my swing. It is SO hard to stay awake! :)

Making cookies with Mom!

More Firsts for Zeke

Hanging with Dad in the morning after I

had just eaten.

Good morning Dad!

The Bronson Family Tummy Time!

Tobie and Josie also decided they needed to work on their on tummy time.

And, Zeke has been relaxing and sleeping since he arrived to our household. So, we thought it was about time he started helping out around the house. Here he is helping Dad mow the lawn. :)

Wallaby Free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today, We went back into the doctor and again had his bilirubin tested. Zeke, I think, is getting sick of having his heel pricked. :( The good news is that his bilirubin level is 12.4, and we were told we could unplug the Wallaby and return it to the hospital. It is so awesome to have the chance to walk around our house with our baby. It is cool to stand back and be so thankful for the little stuff! I even took Zeke outside for awhile to go for a walk with the dogs. So, today was a day of lots of new "firsts" for Zeke and we are SO thankful. Thanks for all of the prayers. Here are of few pictures of our little man Wallaby Free!




The last picture of me on the Wallaby!

Dad and Mom trying me on for size! I think I like it!

The Wallaby continues. . .

We went back to the doctor on Thursday with high hopes of freedom from the Wallaby. I was just so hopeful that I would be able to have a baby that didn't have to be plugged into an outlet all of the time. His bilirubin number was 12.6 on Tuesday. The doctor has said if it was below 12, we would be wallaby free. Unfortunately, it rose to 14.0 on Thursday. We were super bummed and told to continue feedings every two to three hours and continue the Wallaby. We are scheduled to go back in on Sunday and have it retested.

Please pray for good results and a health baby. Thanks!

My First Weekend-"In the Lights"

Zeke's Big First Weekend

We just wanted to post a few pictures of our adventure this last weekend when Zeke had to return to the hospital due to a high bilirubin level. He spend about 24 hours under the big lights. We then returned home on Sunday night and continue to have his hooked up to a machine called a Wallaby for phototherapy.

See below for more info:

The most common treatment for hyperbilirubinemia is phototherapy, which uses fluorescent light to help transform bilirubin into a form the body can more quickly eliminate. Standard phototherapy is usually done in a hospital. However, babies with jaundice who are otherwise healthy may be treated at home with a type of phototherapy that uses a fiber-optic wrap, usually a blanket or a band. These wraps usually reduce blood bilirubin levels more slowly than standard phototherapy, so generally they are used only for mild jaundice. Sometimes standard therapy and fiber-optic wrap therapy are used together.2

Meet our Little

Glow Worm!

My First Week

My First Week

Zeke here. Well, I turned a week old last night (Tuesday) at 8:29pm. I'm still a bit surprised that I am here, and I think my parents are too. I wasn't supposed to arrive until the end of July. But, last Tuesday at about 1:30am, my mom's water broke while she was sleeping. Boy, was she surprised. Both Mom and Dad ran around the house throwing things into a suitcase as they were not even sure what to pack for the big event. Mom was also a little worried as they were scheduled to take the labor preparation class this Saturday the 28th, but I guess I decided to come a little earlier. They were so surprised they didn't even think to take a picture of the two of them before they left for the hospital. They did call Mom's parents from MT to tell them to start the long drive, and I think we gave them a scare too. A friend who was born on the 23rd shared his experience of labor on his parents' blog, so I thought it was a good idea and wanted to try it, too.

• 2:10am Arrive at the hospital and started an IV for Group B Strep (Mom hadn't been tested for it yet since we never made it to our 37 week appointment)


• 2:30am They told Mom and Dad just to relax as the doctor would be in to check my Mom during morning rounds. But, I don't think Mom sleep at all. :(


• 7:40am The doctor came and checked on Mom. She was already 4 cm dilated, but she wasn't feeling any contractions. She thought this labor thing was pretty easy. :) The doctor said he would give her about 12 hours to see if labor would get going naturally as Mom really hoped that would happen. But, because my nice safe surrounding (the amniotic fluid) was burst, I had to come out before 24 hours for my safety.


• 8:00am They bought Mom breakfast of toast and chicken noodle soup. I guess that is what you are supposed to eat when you are in labor. Mom still had trouble believing that she was actually in labor. :)


• 8:00am and on, Mom and Dad made tons of phone calls as she was supposed to be at work today. She had to call the nursing home to tell them even though she wasn't scheduled to start training her replacement until July 14th. She also was able to speak to the woman who was taking over for her at the hospital with the kids. Dad also had to call his job and ask for a few days off as his wife was in labor. It was a busy morning.

• 9:00am Dad left for a few hours to get stuff from home and check on the dogs. I hadn't met them yet at that point, but I had heard them bark a few times and everyone said they were cool.

• 12:00pm Nothing new to report. Mom kept walking around and my heart rate was staying strong. It was awesome too because lots of visitors came by to say hello.

• 2:30pm The doctor came back in and started her on Pitocin since she was still 4cm dilated. She was bummed, but knew it was important to encourage me to come out.


• 5:00pm Mom started to feel contractions a lot more. Dad was trying everything he could think of to help her. They also used a verse from Isaiah to help them and encourage them.


• 6:30pm The nurse encouraged Mom to get up and use the bathroom. Mom was scared as everything hurt. And, for some reason, Mom kept throwing up during the labor. I think she did it 7 times in all. No fun!


• 6:40pm The nurse recommended trying to sit on the therapy ball and Mom was willing to try anything at this point as long as there was a throw up bag close by. She ended up sitting on the ball between contractions and then standing up and leaning over Dad during the contractions. The started coming very fast.


• 7:45pm The nurse asked Mom to get back into bed so she could be checked again. Mom was scared because it seemed to hurt so much more in the bed. But, the nurse checked and Mom was like 9cm dilated. The nurse had her wait a little while and then push through one contraction.


• 8:00pm 10 cm dilated and they were calling the doctor


• 8:05pm Mom started pushing. Man, that was not fun at all and Mom was making a lot of noise. Dad was all excited because he could see my hair when Mom was pushing.


• 8:20pm The doctor told Mom to reach down and feel my hair. She was really excited!


• 8:29pm Out I came! Dad and Mom were so thankful as I started yelling and crying right away. The doctor had said that something babies at 35 weeks have to get sent to Fargo (to the NICU) and sometimes the moms aren't able to hold them right away.


• The doctor said I looked great and gave me to Mom. I don't know why, but she was crying a lot too.