Don't bite your fingernails!!!!!!

I don't know how many times I've told both of my kids.....quit biting your fingernails! What can I say? I have the same disgusting habit that both of my boys do. I bite my fingernails too. However, I don't munch them down quite as far as Rory and Kade do. This disgusting habit came and bit Kade back this week(pun intended).
Last Tuesday I received two phone calls from a number that I didn't recognize on my caller ID so I didn't answer the phone (I figured if someone needed me bad enough they would leave a message). A few minutes later my mom called and said, "Lisa you need to answer your phone. Kade is at the ER at the Utah Valley Hospital and he needs to talk to you about insurance information." Well, immediately you start to panic and it was actually about 15 minutes before he tried called back again. During that time all kinds of terrible thoughts about what could have happened to Kade that he was in the ER went through my mind.
This is what had happened. Apparently, two days after we left Kade at the MTC his hand started to swell up. He went and visited the Dr. in the MTC who gave him a prescription for antibiotic because he said Kade had infection in his hand. He told Kade take the pills for a couple of days and then come back and see him again. Well I guess on Tuesday morning when Kade woke up the swelling had moved clear up his arm into his bicep and the arm was covered with big red blotches. He said he went right into the Dr. and the Dr. said, "Elder Bell you and your companion need to be out in front of the MTC in 10 minutes. A van will take you to the Emergency Room. This infection has gotten out of hand and I can't treat it here." Kade and his companion spent about 3-4 hours one day in the ER where Kade received intravenous antibiotic for the infection. They then returned the next day for another round of intravenous treatment. In the meantime, I receive this phone call from Kade requesting insurance information for the hospital. It turns out Kade had bitten one of his fingernails down just a little bit too far and the finger had become infected. I remember now him telling me before we left for the MTC that his hand was sore but I honestly didn't even stop to check it out. I'm such a great mother :( I asked Kade on the phone......are you going to stop biting your fingernails now? He said yes so hopefully he has learned his lesson.
They took this photo of Kade's hands when we went to get his missionary photos taken. I didn't like the photo much because his fingernails looked so horrible. Who knew I'd be using it to illustrate my blog a few months later. Hahahaha!!!!!!

All About Elder Bell

Its official Kade is now Elder Bell....a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Brian and I took Kade to Kemmerer last Tuesday night so that President Deardon could set him apart. President Deardon did such a great job and gave Kade the most beautiful blessing. What a spiritual experience for us!
President Deardon and Elder Bell after being set apart
The next morning we woke up early in order to get Elder Bell to the MTC in Provo by 11:30. Rory and Abby were able to go with us. We stopped in Provo Canyon by the river to take a family photo of all of us. I don't think it turned out too bad for using the tripod and making the photographer (Brian) run back and forth to get into the picture with us.
Rory, Abby, Elder Bell, Lisa and Brian
We arrived at the MTC just a little bit early. They asked the Elders to take their luggage and store it before the orientation meeting. I snapped this shot of the current Elder Bell being lead through the ropes by the old Elder Bell.
Its great to have an older brother to help show you the way!
And finally, I was able to put Kade's missionary name tag on him! What an experience! This is a moment you pray for all of your life. You want your son to serve a mission. That name tag is special! You know that once your son puts it on he will never be the same little boy again. I thought to myself.....have I taught him enough? Is he ready for this? How am I going to get through the next two years without him? What could I have done different to make sure he was more prepared? Is this how the mothers of the stripling warriors felt as their sons went off to fight? This was truly one of those moments that I will remember forever.

Abby's Graduation

Our family traveled to Logan on May 2nd to attend Abby's graduation. She graduated with a B.S. in Sociology. Now we have two college graduates in our family to mess with the minds of the less educated in the family. Congrats Abby! We are proud of you!