Another year older!

Antonio had a birthday at the end of the year last year, in December.  It is hard to believe he is now 23 years old.  We are grateful for every year!  Praise the Lord, he had a good birthday and was in his right mind for the day and celebration.  He wanted to go to a local "all you can eat" Chinese restaurant, for his special meal.  He has a feeding tube for all his liquid needs, as he aspirates on any fluid taken by mouth.  He does like to eat but often tires after a few bites or just can't eat because of his health or state of mind, so at those times, we blend the food he wants to eat and put it in through his feeding tube.  Lately, he is into eating cream cheese wantons for some reason.  So a Chinese restaurant was his choice.  He also wanted cheese cake, like Zeke had on his recent birthday.  My sister did a wonderful job once again and made a delicious cake for him.  Thank you Aunt "S"!

Antonio is still cycling through good and hard spells... you can read about them and how they came about here.  He will be in his right mind and happy and sweet for several weeks and then totally opposite for a few weeks.  It is very hard on the whole family when he is not in his right mind.  For the few weeks surrounding thanksgiving, he was going through a hard spell and could not even come out and be around people or enjoy the meal he had looked so forward to, just a few weeks earlier.  He says horrible things and tries to hurt anyone who comes in arms length of him when going through a bad spell.  It makes me so sad to see him like this, as I know this is not who he is.  God is so faithful and helps us through it all.   We all become very happy in our home, as we see Antonio emerging out of this phase and becoming himself once again.

When he is himself, he is the sweetest, best, son and brother to all the children.  Loving and tender.  Here I caught him playing with Kinsley on his I-pad.  So very tender.

We love you dearly and always Antonio!  May God grant you health and pour out His healing power upon your body and mind.  You are an inspiration to all and are a wonderful son.  Happy Birthday!

Isaiah 60:1-2  "Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. "For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you.

Love, Dad, mom, Stephen, William, Carolyn, Zeke, Elizabeth, Billy, Timmy, Kinsley and Anna-Kate