Where in the WORLD is Dr. Marshall Bell???

Kilgali RWANDA, AFRICA -

Marshall accepted a surgery rotation in Kilgali Rwanda and left Sept 30.  Katie helped stateside in the weeks before making his travel arrangements, filling out the paperwork and getting all the t's crossed and the i's dotted to secure the trip.  After getting shots and stuffing his bags with supplies and Africawear- he was ready to board the flight -- He discovered that there is still an airline that spoils you. . . Brussels Air.
With the Ebola outbreak in West Africa at customs the only thing that he was asked was "how are you?" as they took his temperature.

On the phone, he's always talking about how cheap the  MOTO taxis are

M got this bike for the weekend and
 said he got lots of strange looks -- just like the one this boy is giving him . . .

This is a country that was ravaged by war and genocide twenty years ago -- 
seeing the peaceful parks and urban setting - you can see that a great deal of rebuilding has taken place.

Katie updated her passport this summer and has been looking forward to joining him there Nov. 1st.  You go, girl!

Marshall doing what he loves!

 OR observations

Sweet Baby Jack

4 weeks - 10 lbs 

Jack Tucker Good - you've been busy growing -- you've gained back the pound you lost after birth and 3 more -- grown two inches and are always hungry. -- you and momma see a lot of late night hours with all those feedings -- we guess that you've been in one serious growth spurt since you got here.

Pappa showed up to baby sit with his airstream shirt-didn't know you had one too.

You like to be held -- and we take advantage of that knowing that you'll grow up all too quickly and be racing around the house with your two big sisters. 

C & S can't get enough of you!  You seem to relax with Campbell holding you and Sydney Kate loves to kiss your head and name all your body parts as she pokes them.







It's gone so quickly your first four weeks -- Mommy kept hoping you'd get here sooner -- and decided you HAD to make your appearance b/4 I went back to school -- then Sydney came down with hand, foot and mouth -- that slowed things down a bit  --- sister got well before you showed your sweet baby face.

Big Sis C & S came for sleepovers while your Mommy and Daddy went to the hospital --

We kept our phones on all day waiting to hear you'd arrived --
FINALLY we got the news and Campbell was sooo excited to hear you were ACTUALLY here!
 

 Within an hour from the call we made it to the hospital to see you for the first time.

Campbell was all about being with you and couldn't stand to be away from you for very long.
Sydney wasn't sure what was going on -- but seeing Mommy and Daddy made it all OK.

There were lots of photo ops with the favorite nurses and hospital staff in the birthing area.

Pappa and Campbell supervise as Daddy gives you your very first bath.
as we left the hospital wepromised Sydney and Campbell dinner at their favorite Chinese Restaurant --the one with real fish in a stream  -- it was the only way we could pull them away from you -- 
I'm sure we'll take you there some day, too --

We kept your sisters super busy but  C kept saying how she missed you

1 day old

1 week old

It's been a busy month for you little guy -- you've been learning how to be a baby and your mommy and daddy have been on duty 24/7 to meet your every need.

 

God has plans for your life Jack Tucker Good and Pappa and I can't wait to watch those unfold.
You're a blessing little one -- we cherish our time with you.

ADVENTURE WEEKEND!

Earlier in the summer when we were visiting Katie and Marshall  in Stillwater, Katie told us that on our CO vacation, she was going to plan an adventure where we would have to get off our computers and cell phones -- NO Wi-Fi --
I made her promise it wouldn't be the bike trip trip through downtown Denver.

We were excited because they were both off all weekend -- which doesn't happen very often for them -- and they shared this weekend with us.

Thursday was Katie's birthday and we were thrilled to get to crash her party.

Telling us we needed to dress in our coolest clothes and --

still not knowing where we were headed - we loaded the jeep and took off for the west. . . Katie at the wheel.

We arrived at the yearly Renaissance Festival

It was one of those festivals you could eat yourself through the whole fair.  We had to sample all the best--

It seemed like 2/3 of the crowd came in full costume!!!  Which made for lots of people gawking --I mean watching!

We decided a must-see would be the jousting tournament,  We grabbed snacks and found a spot close to the ring --

This time of summer there is usually a shower mid-afternoon.  About the time we got settled in to wait for the contest . . . a light sprinkle. . . turned to a gentle shower . . . which became a DOWNPOUR!!!

Don't know why I'm the only one who looks drenched. . .

Katie asked me a couple of weeks ago what I wanted to do on vacation --
I told her a trip to the mountains and riding on the back of Marshall's motorcycle.  Katie packed a wonderful picnic for our drive thru beautiful Pike National Forrest

These two LOOOOOVE the mountains for fishing, hiking, camping snowboarding and skiing . . . on this trip they kept finding camp sites they want to re-visit

This is an area near Deckers, CO where Marshall has fished the South Platte River. We took a short cut to Deckers and drove the back roads for a couple of hours -- on a dirt wash-boardy road.

Didn't know we were lost until Marshall  mentioned we might want to ration our picnic food.

The kids were wonderful hosts and it was a beautiful time to unwind, relax and re-group

Once we got back to town -- I found two little girls who needed their Nana.

Marsh -

I found this letter sorting Marshall's things in the attic last week.

the two years of research and writing

all those hours of rotations, residency and testing

when I endure . . . .




help me see the cure

Mom

We all agreed those last 13 months we had with Mom were our most precious.

Camp Nana Papa 2014

It's Year Three - we mentioned to the kids that with Jack coming early August -- Camp needed to be earlier this year if they were going to have their get away while Bethany could still travel.

Mat and Bethany headed out for Austin on Tuesday morning

We started Camp with Campbell Hope in 2012 --

Last year we added Sydney Kate

C was all about looking for God's critters

Next year -- we'll add Jack Tucker

I LOOOOOOVE Camp Nana Papa!  I bought explorer hats and butterfly nets and bug trappers and we were set (Thanks Dollartree!)

This year with a 20 month old and a 4 yr.old,  Papa and I knew we would be on the move the whole time!  
We got ourselves geared up -- tried to rest up and on Sunday got a cutsie video of Campbell doing the Camp Nana Papa Dance.

  Monday night she prayed at dinner "Thank you that Camp Nana Papa starts tomorrow and that Nana and Papa are gonna have fun and get lots of rest."

C & S get up EARLY -- so that means early to bed for them and ME --

They each have their favorite space-- For Sydney it is the glider in the back

 

We HAVE to play in the Sand Castle -- which means catch it in the coolest, shadiest part of the day and then follow it up with bath time to get rid of all the sand.

C caught the tiny tree frog below and was fascinated with ants trying to carry off  a caterpillar

Uncle Marshall and Aunt Katie gave Campbell neon sidewalk paint for her birthday.

 And then they HAD to paint on their castle canvases!

Campbell's words, "Voila!!!"

We made up games

 wore out our playdough and spent  hours with our Fisher Price village.  Campbell talks to all of them making up stories and having conversations.

We had to picnic outside 

 

 Campbell and Papa played baseball and badminton -- She worked so hard at learning to swing the bat 

Routines and traditions are what Campbell is all about -- hot cocoa at 5:45 in the morning while Nana scarfs down as much coffee as she can. 

Most mornings Sydney refused to have her milk in a sippy cup but HAD to have it in a coffee mug like big sis.

x

Momma and Daddy leave them little  packages for each day with a little gift and a love message

 

 We baked zuchinni chocolate cupcakes  for Kids University



There were so many special - precious times--
C saying often "It's gonna be a good day"  or "Nana, can I come over and have a loooooooong play day?" (Not sure what you call Camp Nana Papa if it isn't a loooooong  3-day play day?)

Hearing her quickly offering to say a prayer each night at dinner -- thanking God for the simplest things . .  .
Thursday night when she got to stay up late to watch the stars come out with her Papa she sweetly said "I love hanging out with you guys".

Sydney stole our hearts with her funny little antics and the way she would  come running to him  when Papa came in the back door.  She sang and danced swinging her hips saying "Oh yeah!  Oh, yeah!"  Reaching up for you -- wanting to be held ALL the time or wanting your phone to watch movies of herself.

All good times do come to an end and yes, Mommies and Daddies do come home -- so Friday morning we loaded up Harley and toys, and socks and dolls and blankies and took Campbell and Sydney back home, 

Campbell got out of the car and raced around her driveway so excited to be home again.

They giggled and crashed on the floor and two tired grandparents went home  to a very quiet house to relax and miss them like crazy!