Reunited

So today I got a visit from an old friend from high school. Becca and I go way back to 1995, but its been about 4 years since we had seen each other. Though our visit was short, it was fun to catch up; especially since she'll be getting hitched in less than 2 months!

Ethan has been a ball of spunk recently mimicking every sound you try to make. His sounds come out more like yelps, but they're hilarious. It doesn't really work when I try to tell him "no", because now he just talks back and starts laughing. He's too adorable for me to really lay down the law. Thanks to Grandma, he has finely tuned his hand-to-mouth coordination and can feed himself his little snacks. He used to cheer for himself each time the food hit his mouth and also when he'd miss his mouth, but he doesn't do it as much anymore. It was fun while it lasted. He still loves food and any chance he gets to eat it. It makes for lots of poopy diapers, but he's a happy boy.

Don't mind the crazy bed-head hair on the right side of his face


Ethan's best impression of a double chin... ok, it's not an impression, it's just Ethan

Recovering

Things are improving for me and I'm now capable of driving myself somewhere. Today was the first time I've driven in about 2 weeks. I went to the store sans baby since my Mom is here and she was at home watching Ethan. Speaking of my Mom, she's been an amazing help for the last week. We've been eating well for the first time in weeks, she picks up Ethan and anything else I leave lying around, she's done my laundry and even watched Ethan so I could sleep in a little bit. I guess I've been a little sleep deprived for the last few weeks. All I can say is that I'm super thankful for her and her willingness to come out and help. Even if it means we have to watch HGTV all day. Seriously. All day. I am also thankful for Naproxen and Vicodin which has greatly helped in easing the pain in my lower back and has allowed me to function somewhat normally. It's amazing to see the difference between today and last Monday where I couldn't even sit in the front seat of the car because it was so uncomfortable. I can sleep now as long as Ethan doesn't wake me up, and I can sit upright. I still have numbness in my left leg and I have to do physical therapy so I'm not completely healed, but I'm getting there.

This whole herniated disc thing has consumed our lives for the last few weeks so sorry for the lack of posts. There's only so much you can say about pain in your lower back without getting people to feel sorry for you. Our friends have been great and I appreciate all the invites for dinners, people to watch Ethan and to keep me company. Thanks everybody!

So now enough about me for the time being. I'm off to go do some physical therapy exercises. Here's a picture of Ethan and his friend Benjamin who just had his 1 year birthday party yesterday. How is it that my 8 month old outweighs a 1 year-old?!?

The Diagnosis...

After a day spent visiting our doctor, getting an MRI and then visiting a spine specialist, it's official...Amanda has a herniated disc!

I'm sure we'll blog more about her hernia later, but for now I'll just leave you with this little ditty.

In other news, Ethan turned 8 months yesterday and has fully recovered from his battle with the croup. As you can see from this picture, he is finally back to normal.

The Croup

Isn't that just the saddest face you have ever seen on this kid? It may seem like we're all falling apart here at the Mudrick house, but at least Ben still feels good. Yesterday while Ethan and I were hanging out he was acting out of sorts. He slept a lot and then later in the afternoon when he tried to "baby talk" it sounded as if he lost his voice. Last night it gradually got worse as he had a rising temperature and his breathing was harsh and sounded very congested. We called his pediatrician this morning and went in for a visit where he was diagnosed with having croup. It sounded like he had fluid in his lungs the way he was breathing, but luckily he said his lungs sound clear and it's like he has baby laryngitis. He's on Motrin as well as some other prescription stuff that should reduce the swelling in his throat. He's been sleeping most of the day and when he's not, he's crying to be held or touched. He hasn't even cracked a smile at all today. It breaks my heart. Anyway, we hope it'll pass within the next few days. My back is still killing me, but after Ethan's appointment we went next door to get a couple X-rays of my back. The radiologist should be checking it this afternoon and then forwarding it on to my Dr., so hopefully we'll find out if there's anything wrong sometime soon. So far 2009 has been the year of visits to the Dr. and co-pays. Wohoo!

Make Out Session

It's OK... I Have a Dr.'s Note

I guess it was inevitable with a 22 lbs. baby that sometime soon my back would go out. For some reason I still feel a little too young to be having such issues. After a week or so of not being able to sleep through the night, waking up with shooting pain down my left side, Ben thought it would be wise to call our family practitioner. We've never met our Dr. before, so we weren't exactly sure what to expect, but he was great. Not that I'm healed or anything (I still can't sleep through the night), but he's very caring and concerned about my situation. Basically he told me that it's probably sciatic back pain which usually runs its course and will go away and to temporarily help with the pain he prescribed some Tylenol with codeine. Yeah, that works for about a couple hours and then I wake up again with the same problems. Not only that, but I have to be careful about when I feed Ethan if I've taken the meds. Anyway, the problem isn't over yet, but hopefully I'll be able to get it resolved sometime soon either by a neurologist, physical therapist or chiropractor. Yikes.

In the meantime, I have been instructed to not pick up Ethan, go to work, or do any other strenuous activities. He wrote a note for me to bring in to work. I felt like I was in 6th grade giving my PE teacher a Dr.'s note so that I didn't have to run the mile. I guess the one good thing about this is that I have a valid excuse to not shovel snow. Sorry Ben... especially since it snowed like 6 inches last night. He's been fantastic and hasn't complained about me complaining of back pain and has picked up Ethan, the laundry and anything else I tell him to. What a guy. I love him.

The cause for all this ruckus... how could you not love a face like this?


Poor Ben left his warm coat in the Bishops office, and his gloves in Utah, but at least he's got my Dad's authentic sherpa Levi's jacket to keep him warm

Christmas in Utah

We made it back to Rochester (to find a driveway full of snow) after a great week in Utah for Christmas and New Years (and Hanukkah). We stayed the week with Amanda's parents, the Brufords, in Orem but were lucky to also have my parents (and some siblings) in town too. We had a wonderful time and wish the holidays didn't have to end so soon. Here are lots of pictures from the trip (WARNING - there are a lot of pictures, so pace yourself).

Ethan got lots of presents.

Some were scarier than others.

Ethan was serenaded by Grandpapa...

...and got to hang out with his cousin Stella...

...and Renee and Lance (not pictured).

Ethan and Grandpa Bruford wore traditional European garb during Christmas dinner.

Ethan took baths in the kitchen sink.

Jacob, Natalie and I played a lot of this game.

Ethan made his first visit to Cabela's but Amanda wouldn't let him buy a shotgun.

Amanda gave my little brother Jacob a much needed haircut with a Flowbee, the original vacuum powered hair cutter.

The Brufords and Mudricks took a trip to Arches. If you look closely, you can see me and Ethan waving.

Amanda and Natalie sitting in the North Window.

Despite the cold, Ethan didn't complain at all.

Luckily, the rock on top of Balanced Rock didn't fall on us.

Dad and Mom Mudrick with Jacob in front of Tunnel Arch. Too bad Jacob's hat is covering his great haircut.

Most importantly, we ate lots and lots of food like Creme Brulee...

...and Brisket...

...and fondue...

...and pickles (Ethan's new favorite food)...

...and prime rib...

...and latkes and matzah ball soup (at our Hanukkah party with the Brufords, Mudricks and Ostraffs).

Diet starts tomorrow.

Anyway, we hope everyone out there had a great Christmas too. Maybe your New Year's resolution should be to take a trip to Rochester to visit us...after the snow melts, of course.