Bell family updates

Its been awhile. . .we've been busy!

- Parker got his cast off last week and his arm is healing nicely. He actually seemed to miss the cast:)He got to spend the night with Nana and Bubba in Corvallis last week and had soooo much fun with them, Betsy and Aunt Abby! He also got his first bike this weekend and has enjoyed riding it at the park
- I (Jess) am taking a "leave"/break from work starting May 1st! I'll be taking the month of May off at the very least. Another opportunity is in the works, but we are trying to decide whether or not I will go back to work. Timing is still up the in air and we are open to the idea of me not working -even if it means some radical life changes/adjustments to make it happen. It has been nearly 6 months of "normal" lab work so we officially will be able to start thinking about having another baby here soon!
-Nate is still transitioning in his new office and is enjoying the people he works with and how quickly his days go by! He has been a part of a cool new men's community group with our friend Mike and some other guys.

*We'll be sure to get some new pics of Parker on his bike in the next few days!

Just for Uncle Mikey

Uncle Mikey made a visit to Oregon a couple weeks ago to grace us with his presence. Though our time was brief together, it was so good to see him and made us wish all the more that he and Aunty Rae lived closer (the house next door is for sale!). Mikey didn't bring a camera, so we ended up using ours to chronicle his time with us, and despite his requests that we send him the pictures...we haven't done so. Until now, that is! This post is dedicated to Uncle Mikey. We love you:-)

Fun week

What a fun-filled week and its not even over! Parker got to go to the zoo with Grandma and a some friends and today we went to the carousel where he even got his first "licks" of ice cream.

Tonight Bubba came to spend some time with us and Nana will be coming up tomorrow! We also have a play date planned with some friends on Friday. We are excited for the beautiful weather to start this weekend and look forward to more time outside!

P.S. Parker has been wanting to sit on his potty chair every day with his pants down. I haven't been brave enough to take his diaper off, but I am so pleased and proud that he is showing interest so soon!

Updates

Parker had a follow-up appointment on Tuesday and he did fracture his elbow and got a hard cast put on. He should only have to wear it for three weeks. He is back to his usual carefree and adventurous self after being a much more cautious and clingy little guy for the first few days after the accident.

This morning Parker attempted to use his potty chair! He went and sat down and wanted to take his pants off. He kept looking between his legs and making farting sounds with his mouth. I realized then that he had actually pooped his pants so thankfully he still had his diaper on. Atleast he is understanding the connection much earlier than we would have thought! Afterwards he wanted to wear his camo boots-minus pants;)

Uncle Johnny dislocated his shoulder the two weeks ago and Uncle Joe-Joe tore a ligament in his finger on Tuesday. Apparently the boys in the family are prone to injuries of various types;)

We got to see the whole Bell/Bain clan on Sunday (minus Aunty Rae) and it was lots of fun to see Abby's growing belly and how grown up little Bets is!

My bloodwork (HCg) count has continued to be normal. The doctor thinks that we should only need to wait another two months to start trying to conceive again. Praise the Lord for that as we are realizing how much we miss having a "baby" and Parker seems enthusiastic about babies and loves caring for his cabbage patch doll (Nico-Benny)!!

My brave little boy

Parker had a bit of an accident today. The day started out fine when my friend Lindsay and her husband Tom dropped off little Grace to play while they attended a memorial service. Parker and Grace had fun playing together (aside from when Parker decided to get a bit aggressive). Tom and Linds and their other little one, Noel, came over afterwards to have brunch. Grace and Parker kept going upstairs to play, and one particular time Nate went up to "supervise". Nate was playing with Parker and "laid" (threw) him on the bed, and Parker's arm got stuck at a weird angle behind his back. Anyhow, Nate heard a snap and brought an upset Parker down to me. It only took him a few minutes to tell me that he heard a snap, but remained insistent that he was just "laying" him on the bed. Parker was definitely crying a different way-more pathetic, sad, confused type of unconsolable cry so we decided we needed to bring him to the Emanual Children's ER. He was holding his left arm and not moving it. (For the record I have forgiven my husband and know that it was an accident!!)

We got in relatively quickly this time (compared to the 3 or 4 hour wait last time). They admitted us in a matter of minutes and a nurse came in prompty. At first they thought he had disclocated his elbow, but after another hour of waiting for the doctor, it was decided that Parker have an x-ray taken to make sure there wasn't a fracture. We waited for another hour or so to hear the results. Turns out they could not see a fracture, but there was visible fluid around the bones pointing to a fracture. They put Parker in a splint (basically a soft cast) and he is going to see an Orthopedic Pediatrician this week for follow-up. We are praying that he does not require a hard cast and that it is only a minor thing that can heal without. We were going to be starting swim lessons on Tuesday which will have to be delayed:(

My sweet boy has been a real trooper. He really only cried for an hour or so after the accident and was content and sweet as can be for the three additional hours in the exam room. It is sad to see him not be able to do things he usually can do like climb or crawl under the table or drink from his sippy (also can't get it wet or dirty which will be a challenge). He'll survive, but it really is a sad thing to see such a little guy go through! Please be praying that he doesn't have to get a hard cast and that if he does, he'll be content and that it won't have to be for long!!!

Here is a picture of him hamming it up-he knows how to get the attention at crucial times;) Notice the massive splint that we can even fit a normal t-shirt over!!!

He is Risen!

The Lord is Risen indeed! We had a wonderful and relaxing day celebrating with family. Parker enjoyed his easter basket and looking for eggs! He had to be the cutest kid at church if I do say so myself! ;)

Cute videos

So I finally had time to download some cute/funny videos of Parker and had to post them!
He learned the low, low, low from his cousin, but who knows where he learned how to dip his fries (must have seen it somewhere)!