Ice storm in the ozarks

We have been experiencing inclement weather here at home and have been hanging out around the house today. We have tree limbs and whole trees snapping all around us, just missing the house. We are praying that none of them land on the house or the cars. It looks like a tornado went through the yard and all around Flippin. We haven't travelled to far. Wal-Mart (of course), and to Scott and Ann's house to turn on the gas heater for them, just in case the power goes out and doesn't come back on. Mom and Dad are without power and the power company says it will be Thursday before they will get it back on. It could take longer if the weather gets bad tonight.

All the power lines look like this as well as the trees.

We went to the doctor yesterday. All is well with Helenea and Baby. Only less than two months left. Our baby ticker at the right tells exactly how many are left, and how far along she is. Just click on it and see. I have put a shelf up and painted it in the nursery. We were supposed to get the crib today but the weather didn't cooperate. Get it when we can I guess.

Good news from Baby Harper, she has her eyes open and is off the oscillator and on a regular ventilator now. You have got to check out her site and see how many people have been following her progress. Definitely God's hand at work here. Please continue to pray for her continuing healing and for all the other babies and the families who are in this hospital and others like it.

Love without ceasing,

Give without measure-

Who can exhaust

God's limitless treasure?

--Malcolm Schloss

A Day in the Life

It has been a week since my last post so I deem it appropriate to add some more to the Erwin family blog. All is well with Helenea and Baby. She says Baby is starting to poke and prod into parts of her body that she never thought would be possible. It is starting to hurt. Me and Baby had a pushing contest last night. He (when I say he it is just a habit I guess so if I keep typing he don't think that Baby is a he cause we really don't know yet and won't know until March), anyway......He is really packing a pretty good punch. Just like Momma.

I thought I would introduce everyone to the Erwin family. They are a little furry and sometimes temperamental, especially Max. But they provide companionship to us and we wouldn't know what to do without them.




Max. The look on his face describes his personality. He is spoiled rotten.

Charlie Brown (left) and Anakin. These are Helenea's dogs. They don't like me very much. I tolerate them and they tolerate me.

Of course, I have to brag on this year's deer kill. This is the biggest buck I have ever shot. He had a 21" spread and scored 135. This may not be big to some, but to me he is #1.

Dad helped me find the deer, dress it and drag it out of the woods. I think he was just as excited as I was. Notice the patch on the house where the tree fell on it. I still need to paint that. Get to it this spring.

Anyway, I love this blogging thing. I am new at it and wonder why I never started one earlier. I have got some ideas off of other blogs and am creating my own. Thanks to Nikki Swan for the inspiration and also for the love she and her family have brought to Antioch Baptist Church.

I also would like everyone to keep praying for Baby Harper Martin, her condition has improved and we praise God for all He is doing for her.

Now glory be to God who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of-infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. Ephesians 3:20
This verse means so much to Kelly and her family and now even so much more to us.

In His Unconditional Love

3D Ultrasound Pics

This is the baby at 25 weeks in 2D.

This is the baby at 30 weeks in 3D. Amazing technology. We are taking bets on the sex of the baby. All proceeds go to the Erwin baby diaper relief fund.

Maybe these will help you determine the sex. We can't tell, but post your opinion and we'll tell you when he/she arrives.

I couldn't resist putting these beautiful pics of Helenea on here. She agreed, so here you go. I just love the look a pregnant woman gets. Especially her. She says she is fat, but your supposed to be when your pregnant. She also says she looks like a blimp, but I tell her she is a healthy one.

Money is like manure, of very little use except it be spread.--Sir Francis Bacon

And believe me, we are sure spreading it around and have yet to finish spreading. But the crops shall be plentiful in the years to come.

Intermission.

Music fades in............

The nursery is almost finished. Helenea posed for me in front of my masterpiece. I searched the web for the animal pics and drew them with pencil then painted them. It was kinda neat, I didn't realize how easy it was. I do paint houses for a living but I have never attempted this. Since we don't know what sex the baby is we opted for the Noah's Ark nursery theme. Notice the puffy little clouds.




The stork before

The stork after.

There is still some finishing touches that need to be done before Baby arrives. As you can imagine, we are both overwhelmed with emotions, as is everyone who has had their first child.

Anyway, we went to the Lamase class last night. The class was overbooked with 19 couples. We were all packed into one "living room" in a house the hospital had remodeled for such a class. But, they usually only have about half as many people. So we moved to the cafeteria in the hospital, took a tour of the rooms we will be occupying, and did some slow breathing techniques. They split us into two groups, so now we will be going on Tuesday night instead of Thursday. Got home around 9:00 p.m.. Right at bed time for us.

Those who enjoy something, or suffering something together, are companions. Those who enjoy or suffer one another, are not. --C.S. Lewis

Til' next time................

Erwin family

Just started the blog today. Wanted everyone to be able to see the progress of Helenea's pregnancy without having to email everyone pics. I will be uploading as much as possible within the next three months. So far she is 30 weeks into the pregnancy. She is due March 24th. We don't know the sex of the baby yet. We like surprises, obviously. I have been working on the nursery periodically, painting and putting up the border, cleaning the closet, etc., etc. We are waiting on the crib to show up at the end of the month. Then I can match the shelf I am going to paint/stain the same color. Or try. This has been a wonderful experience and we are anticipating the arrival of our new baby boy/girl, we just pray for it's health and her health.

We start childbirthing classes tonight. I'll let you know how that goes.

May God's will be done in all our lives.

In His Neverending Love,
Ryan