With Humble Gratitude

WOW! I just realized that I haven't posted in a while. I guess I can't even call this blog Ernie and his Girls any more. It is a detriment to Keaston. Any way.... Friends and Family! I want to sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your prayers over the last 2 weeks for our family especially with Keaston and Kim. For the first time in a very long time I felt the holy spirit working in ways that He is meant to work. I don't know what is truly like to be exiled and needing to clasp onto every bit of my faith like the Israelites but that is truly the way I have felt until this incident. My family actually stood behind me for the first time in a while without reservation. The social network that is Facebook helped Kim and I deal understand what others have been through and that this was not a crisis we needed to be completely devastated about. I was able to talk to friends who I haven't talked to in a while just with the comfort knowing that they are still a huge part of my family's lives. I guess that is called Christianity! What a wonderful thing! Christianity and Community. I LOVE IT!! Let's do more of it together. This latest experience has made Kim and I want to participate in that community more and help others like they have helped us. I don't know if anyone has been watching the History Channel's THE BIBLE but you get a feeling of what our faith brothers and sisters had to go through but story after story you see the perseverance and the believe that God is in control. ALWAYS AND FOREVER! I feel that and I hope this feeling never ever leaves me again. To everyone who has been praying for us here is an update on Keaston. He is officially off his oxygen and has been improving daily. The next day or so we have to have a Dr. come to the house to do one more room air test but my boy is going to pass with flying colors. The trick over the next couple of days is to make sure that Keaston is fully healed of this virus. But... He has been smiling (I think because he doesn't have to have oxygen tubes taped to his face anymore) He has been eating more than enough (about 4 ounces per feeding) and he is acting like he actually likes his mommy and daddy again. The other day I held him for 2 hours and all he did with me was coo and caw the whole time. Now this is fun and this is how I remember parenting. Kim is slowly getting better although her ear still hurts a little but every day it seems that we are turning the corner. So...Once again.... THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. Kim, Ella, Keaston, Mylie, and I are truly humbled by this Community and Christianity. We live in a sinful sinful world but the promise of the hope is never ending. Thank you all for helping me (a sinner) finally realize this!

The Big '2'!

Ella's Lion King Birthday! The Food: Ernie did the humus lion face. He was very proud of it and rightly so because it turned out awesome. I did the lion cakes. Thank you pinterest for all the great ideas!

The guests: We had only a family party this year. We enjoyed having our families over to help us celebrate. Thank you families for loving and supporting our daughter so much.

The fun gifts: A bike and helmet from Oma and Papa:

An art frame from Auntie Mana and Anthony:

Bubbles from Auntie Calle:

Lots of clothes from Grammy and Grandpa Mac (thank you for clothing our daughter for a half a year!):

Grandma and Grandpa Krauth got Ella some clothes as well:

Uncle Joshy and Auntie Lolo got Ella a walkie talkie and cute dress. Lia was more interested in opening Ella's gift than Ella was:

I didn't get any pictures of Auntie JuJu's gift or Auntie Jeni's :( Julie got Ella a cute outfit with skinny jeans :) So cute and Auntie Jeni got Ella a leapfrog picnic basket and stuffed lion. All our parents gave us money to help us buy Ella a new bedroom set. We will be moving her to a big girl room close to the end of summer. We are in the process of painting it and getting it all fixed up before the big move. Pics to come once we are finished. Finally, it wouldn't be an official birthday without cake!

Last but not least... I title this : "We're in trouble!"

Hard to believe where Ernie and I were two years ago. I remember Ella's "birth" day like it was yesterday. I remember the long walk Ernie and I took to our favorite local coffee shop "lattas" that morning. I remember not sleeping the night before or two weeks prior. I remember the contraction pain, and the relieving moment when I received my epidural. I remember worrying if Ernie's mom would ever make it because her phone was off all day and she was leaving for a month long vacation the next morning. I remember seeing Ella for the first time and thinking how did I just push this baby out of me and praising God for a happy, healthy baby girl. As a amazingly, awesome as that moment was, and how it will forever be etched into my mind, I can't even begin to tell you how I cherish all the moments since she was born. She has gone through many milestones and she is only 2! Each one being more awesome than the last. I can't wait for the years to come. I am so proud of her now... what about when she goes to preschool, or has her first date, or graduates from high school and college, and gets married and has her own babies! Gosh... I don't even want to think about that! Point being, Ella is our miracle! Our pride and joy! Our never ending supply of laughs. We love her a tremendous amount. (when people say that you couldn't love anything more than you love your own child... they were right) Ella, if you don't know it already, we love you a lot! Thank you for filling our lives with so much love, lots of laughter, and certain satisfaction of knowing you are ours and nobody can ever take that away from us. God has watched over you, protected you, and keeps you close to his heart for the last two years. Our continual prayer is that will never end! Be weary of those who are out destroy your joy. We will continue to protect you from that for as long as we can. We love you Ella Jean! Happy 2nd birthday!

Daddy Dates

Ernie has women coming out of every nook and cranny in his life. There is always something girlie going on between me, Ella and our puppers Mylie. I know sometimes he wishes he had more manly things in his life. Ponytails, baby dolls, and pink are a little overwhelming sometimes. I think he would add a "hot head of emotions" to that list as well. Somebody is always crying or being moody between Ella, Mylie, and myself.

However, being stuck with all this estrogen is not always a bad thing. He can easily get away with watching any girlie show, whether that be Dora the Explorer or the Bachelor, without having his mancard taken away because he has three lovely ladies watching it with him. Also there is an endless supply of chocolate in the house and his laundry is always done. Not too shabby I might say.

I know Ernie loves his girls... he tells every day :) and we love him.

One thing Ernie is good at is loving our little Ella with all his heart. Both Ernie and Ella share a love language in common and that is quality time. AND boy do they love to spend time together. Ernie has taken Ella Jean on two Daddy/daughter dates. Now that Ella is getting older, it is so fun taking her places we know that she would really enjoy. Ella loves anything animal and so Ernie has chosen to take Ella to the Aquarium and to the Zoo on their outings.

Daddy/daughter dates implies no Mommy allowed and so I cannot tell you exactly what went on, but I can tell you both come home happy and extremely exhausted. Ella also has a Daddy fixation for the next couple of weeks too. I think if she had it her way she would do Daddy/daughter dates every day.

Enjoy the pictures. I know I do... they melt my heart knowing that I have a husband who loves my daughter with every ounce of who he is. This mommy and wife couldn't ask for ANYTHING more endearing and heartwarming.


The Aquarium:














The Zoo:
















Thanks you Daddy for loving me so much that you take me out on really fun dates. You are teaching me many great things about how men should treat women because you are setting such a good example. Thank you for loving mommy and me so well. You are the greatest Daddy in the whole wide world. Next daddy/ daughter date I would like to go to the Children's Museum. I love you with all of my heart. Love, Ella Jean