Monday, January 18, 2016

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1RQrcOW January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1Pnhfl3 January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1RQraq0 January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1PnhfkZ January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1RQrcOP January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1PnhhcG January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1RQrcOL January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Judah and Lindsey (one of our amazing party hosts). via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1PnhhcC January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Love this picture! Judah finally started talking to everyone as it was time to end the party. He was being shy for most of his party. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1RQrcOH January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Ticket blaster with Daddy. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1Pnhf4D January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

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More sweet friends! via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1RQr7e7 January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

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Judah was so excited he could eat the paper off of his cake! via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1Pnhf4A January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

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via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1RQr7e0 January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

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Silly kids :) via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1Pnhf4s January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Mikey the superhero :) via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1PnheO8 January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Me with our amazing party hosts, Lindsey and Heather (the manager). via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1RQr7dU January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Such sweet friends! via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1PnhgWc January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

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Sweet baby Colten. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1PnheNW January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Baby Kendal shares a birthday with Judah and Anton. Happy FIRST Birthday Kenal! via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1RQr9Te January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


My sweet nephews Dilan, and Blake. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1PnhgW6 January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Judah's superhero cut out. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1RQr9T6 January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Anton's superhero cut out :) via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1RQr9T0 January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Both boys names were included in EVERYTHING! via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1PnhexD January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM

Facebook update from Help Anton

When we asked Judah what all he wanted to do for his birthday and how much he wanted Anton included in the party he pretty much said he wanted Anton's name on everything and wanted him included in everything. We were having Judah's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese so I wasn't sure how all of this would work out but I was determined to make it work. I went to Chuck E Cheese a few days before the party and asked to speak to the manager. I had prayed before I went that God's will would be done and the person I spoke to would be compassionate and understanding. Heather H.(one of the managers) came out and we talked a little bit about party details (what the kids would drink, ect...). Then I said so here is the reason I came and I started to explain Anton's story to her, I told her how we adopted him, how Judah and Anton are the exact same age (sharing the same birthday), I told her all about EB, Anton's BMT, how he got intussusception, how we got 5 beautiful days with him before he passed away, I told her how Christmas came early, and how this birthday was going to be a really hard and really important birthday for Judah and important for our whole family. Here I was standing at the pizza counter in chuck e cheese pouring my heart out with tears flowing from my eyes and you know what??? Heather was tearing up as well. She was SO kind and SO compassionate. She went over every detail of the party and we talked about all the ways we could include Anton. She told me we would have two party hosts (because of the size of the party we were having) and she would make sure they understood the situation. She gave me a big hug before I left and told me how sorry she was for our loss. I am so thankful I went in to talk to her and so thankful for how she handled everything. When we walked in for Judah's party Heather (the manager I spoke to) and Lindsey (our other party host) greeted our family at the door. Heather told me she was going to work our party with Lindsey to make sure everything went perfectly. We walked over and they had included Anton in EVERY SINGLE DETAIL of the party. They had a superhero cut out with Judah's name on it and one with Anton's name on it, they had a superhero cape, superhero glasses, and a name badge for both Judah and Anton. Both of their names were on the reserved table signs. They included BOTH Judah and Anton's names in the Happy Birthday song. They went above and beyond anything I could have asked for to make this party special for Judah and to include Anton in all of it. It made the day so much easier. Judah had a blast at his party and I feel like we honored Anton's life so beautifully in the process. Thank you so much to Heather and Lindsey, you guys made what could have been a really hard and really awful day super fun and special for our whole family. I can never thank you both (and Chuck E Cheese) enough for the kindness you showed our family during this hard time. I hope you will always remember how much this meant to us! - January 18, 2016 at 11:04PM http://ift.tt/1r2lUi4

Facebook update from Help Anton

On the boy's birthday we drove out to the cemetery to take leave Anton's birthday balloons and sign Happy Birthday to both of the boys. As we pulled up a graveside service for someone else had just ended and they were getting ready to put the dirt on the grave. My heart could not handle this so we left and came back a few hours later. As we were pulling out of the cemetery I was so overcome with grief for that other family, I just prayed for them as we drove away. It started raining pretty hard as we were driving around and I was not looking forward to being in the rain when we returned to the cemetery but I knew I just had to go so we could sing Happy BIrthday and leave Anton's balloons. As we pulled the car beside Anton's gravesite it stopped raining. It might sound strange but I was so thankful it stopped raining so I could have this moment I had planned on. We brought balloons to release but they flew out of the car as soon as we opened the door. Judah still wanted to release a balloon so we took one off of Anton's balloon bouquet. We sang Happy Birthday to Anton and Judah and then headed off to Judah's birthday party. It was so hard to drive away. My heart was so torn between Judah and Anton that day... - January 18, 2016 at 10:37PM http://ift.tt/1r2lUi4

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1NhDQhB January 18, 2016 at 10:37PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1nuE7Jk January 18, 2016 at 10:37PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1NhDOX7 January 18, 2016 at 10:37PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1nuE7Jf January 18, 2016 at 10:37PM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1NhDOX3 January 18, 2016 at 10:37PM

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4 via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1ROFxeD January 17, 2016 at 11:39PM

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via Help Anton http://ift.tt/238vy7j January 17, 2016 at 12:11PM

Saturday, January 16, 2016

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Happy 6th Birthday sweet boys, we love you both so much! Thank you Rocio for this adorable picture! via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1OWoJ2D January 16, 2016 at 08:44PM

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From left to right: Judah and Anton on their last day of being 2,3, and 4. Judah on his last day of being 5. Sweet Anton, you are so loved and so missed! via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1P5yg9C January 16, 2016 at 01:27AM

Facebook update from Help Anton

I'm not sure why but the day before our kids birthday is almost as special to us as their actual birthday. There is just something so neat about the last day they will ever be a certain age. Once we brought Anton home I started taking a picture of the boys together the day before their birthday every year. I will always treasure those pictures. I kept going back and forth this year because I didn't want to take the picture without Anton in it but I still wanted to have a picture of Judah on his last day of being 5. I asked Judah if he was okay with taking the picture and he said yes. Such a hard picture for me to take but I'm thankful we did it. I asked Judah what all he wanted to do for their birthday. He wanted Anton's name on the birthday invitation, he wanted to make sure that we sing Happy Birthday to Anton and to him, and he wanted to make Anton a blue cake. Judah also made two paper chains to count down to their birthday. Today the kids helped me make Anton a cake, they decorated it and did a great job. Every year since Anton was born he has gotten a balloon bouquet for his birthday. I have kept up with doing this every since we brought him home (except for their 4th birthday, Mom fail). I ordered the boys their balloon bouquets and picked them up today. Tomorrow we will go out to Anton's graveside to take him his balloons, we will also take the cake the kids made him, and sing Happy Birthday to Judah and Anton. My heart breaks for Judah. I can't imagine what that sweet boy is going through. He lost his brother, his best friend, and his "twin". Tomorrow will be bittersweet for sure. We will celebrate both of our boys. We will love on Judah and make him feel as special as we can and our hearts will break that we are not about to do the same for Anton. - January 16, 2016 at 01:07AM http://ift.tt/1r2lUi4

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Judah and Anton (from left to right): Last day of being two, three, four. Judah's last day of being five. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1STqEGU January 16, 2016 at 01:07AM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Paper chain count down to their birthday. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1U1SX4l January 16, 2016 at 01:07AM

Facebook update [pic] from Help Anton


Paper chain count down to their birthday. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1STqEGO January 16, 2016 at 01:07AM

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Birthday Cake. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1U1SX4h January 16, 2016 at 01:07AM

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Birthday Cake. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1STqFL3 January 16, 2016 at 01:07AM

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Paper chain count down to their birthday. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1U1SX4f January 16, 2016 at 01:07AM

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Birthday Cake. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1STqEqq January 16, 2016 at 01:07AM

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Birthday Cake. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1U1SZJx January 16, 2016 at 01:07AM

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Birthday Cake. via Help Anton http://ift.tt/1U1SZJt January 16, 2016 at 01:07AM