More Old Photos

Ruth Widmer Sanford (left). Mary, do you know who this is with Ruth?


Bob and Mary Ann Morris

Glenn and Vida Morris


Bob, Grandpa, and Glenn Morris
~Nancy~

Widmers and Sanfords

Mary and Frank Widmer with their two grandaughters, Kathryn and Mary Ann, daughters of Leonard and Ruth Sanford. -- Mary

New Morris addition

There is a new member to the Morris family - a precious four-legged black and white cat! :) I found him last week in my apartment courtyard and couldn't resist seeking him out every day since to see how he was doing. I'd bring him in for a few hours to cool off and give him some food (chicken - since I didn't have any official cat food on hand). I've decided to adopt him, for now anyway. We'll see how my allergies hold up. He has the sweetest disposition and a squeak for a meow. Gave him a bath, and he didn't put up much of a fuss. I can carry him around anywhere, and he just goes right along. He's a real trooper. :) I nicknamed him Bookends because of his coloring. Don't know if that'll stick, but it's all I can think of right now. Any suggestions? ~Kim

Four Weeks to Go!

Still waiting for Janie! I know it's a terrible picture, but it's really the only exciting event I have going on in my life right now, and I hardly ever have anything to post. It's hard to believe that this time next month I will probably finally have my hands on her. I feel great- just the expected aches and discomforts. It's been a really great pregnancy, thank God. Her due date is September 9, but at this point, I hope she comes a week or two early. My biggest fear is my maternity leave from teaching at the beginning of the year, but people tell me that I'll care a lot less once she's here. I'm sure that's true. We also have a lot of work to do on her nursery yet, but I'm sure it will get done soon. We don't have a middle name for her yet; her daddy is giving it to her and taking great care to make it a good one. Loose ends keep you going, I guess. C'mon, Janie! - Laura

Kristin's Home!

Hello everyone! Kristin and I came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon. It is so good to be home! She is doing well right now, eating cheese and playing with her brother and sister. She started a new seizure medicine at the hospital which seems to be reducing the amount of seizures she has. We will start treatment in 2 weeks called the Ketogenic Diet, so we'll be back in the hospital for 5 days. The doctor believes that Kristin will respond well to the diet which has a 50% chance of preventing all her seizures. That would be amazing! For those of you who have not heard her diagnosis, here goes:

Kristin was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was 18 months old and with generalized Epilepsy last August. She experienced "absence" and "myoclonic" type seizures regularly throughout the day. She was on 3 types of anti-seizure meds, and we were still making changes to dosages/combinations to reduce her seizures even more. (Before starting her medication last August, she was having 12-15 seizures a minute.) Her CP is highly functional -- she is able to walk with leg braces, feed herself and speak 2-3 word phrases.

When she got really sick 3 weeks ago with vomiting, dehydration and high fever, something triggered in her brain, and she began experiencing an increased amount of seizures as well as new types of seizures. The brain MRI told us that she has a condition called Polymicrogyria (PMG.) It is a rare congenital brain defect most likely resulting from the twin-to-twin-transfusion syndrome. It can not be fixed, and it will not get worse, although the seizures caused by the PMG may damage her brain further if we can not control them. Further brain damage will worsen her cerebral palsy, making it more difficult to walk and eat and control her movements. She could also go into "status epilepticus" which is a state of being in a constant seizure and will stop her breathing.

That's pretty much what we are working with now. Controlling her seizures is top priority, and I think we have a good plan with a good doctor.

Thank you so much for keeping Kristin in your thoughts and prayers these last 3 weeks. We still have a long way to go, but with God's grace, we will get through this as well. Kristin seems to be the expert at overcoming "rare" conditions! We love you all!

Sarah

A Slight Delay

Kristin will go home on Sunday. They decided to introduce a new seizure medication through an IV and wanted to keep her a couple of days to see how she does. She is so precious and good about everything. Please pray this medication will lessen the seizure occurrences.
~Nancy~

Sweet Kristin Gets to Go Home!

Kristin is scheduled to go home today, 8/1. We thank everyone for your prayers and thoughts and especially thank the Lord for His Grace.

~Nancy~