Oct. 21, 2013, Nashville, Tennessee, 7:24 a.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Johnathon here.  Hope this finds you all well and happy.

As for us, life has been crazy at best.  Now that our babies are here, life has gotten even more interesting.  I am not complaining, mind you, but wow!  I have never realized just how much is INVOLVED in caring for two babies!

Yes, we are the parents of twins, two girls that we have named Moriah Rebekka and Maryam Grace.  They were born last month; I am very happy to announce that both babies are perfectly  healthy and Mama (Rebekka) sailed through the delivery without any incident whatsoever.  The fact that she carried the babies nearly to term has been nothing short of a miracle; God has really blessed us by enrusting us to care for these two small human beings!

Rebekka delivered the girls by C-section; she is still healing, but has really never been in pain.  Maybe that's a good thing in a way, but in a lot of ways, her pain insensitivity disorder has been quite challenging, even in the best of times.  The disorder cost her her legs, but even despite all that she has faced, Rebekka has the best attitude of someone I have ever seen.  She reminds me of my mom in a lot of ways.

I just wish I could do more physically to help my wife, but she is more than happy to help care for me.  I'm just glad we have our caregivers, Tom and Jackie, to help out.  They make life so much easier for the two of us!

Healthwise, I'm holding my own when it comes to my MD .. no really big changes there.  It's as if I've entered a holding pattern.  No worse, but yet, no better.  Still, the fact that I am still alive, all these years later, is amazing.  Hard to believe what I have accomplished in my nearly 21 years upon this earth!  (I wasn't supposed to live beyond age five.  Guess God had the last laugh, 'cause I'm still here! :) )

I just hope that I didn't pass the MD gene on to our daughters, but right now I am trying to think positive.  Who knows? Maybe by the time they're grown, a cure will have already been found, and there will be no more Johnathon Sanduskys or Matthew Stepaneks; MD will be able to be treated, or perhaps obliberated altogether, and people diagnosed with MD (or any other neuromuscular disease) will be able to rise from their chairs and walk and maybe even RUN!  It is nice to think about .... I just hope I live long enough to see that happen; what a wonderful day that will be!

October is upon us, which means one thing: getting ready for the church fall festival, not to mention Veteran's day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  There are also special events at Ben Israel Temple, where we go every Saturday, for the upcoming holidays.  The leaves are at peak; they've been nothing short of spectacular, as is the norm here in Tennessee during fall time.

Mom and Dad have informed me that they are in the process of adding to the family, which means that in a few months, I'll be getting a brand new baby sister.  Her name is Tsehi, but they are gonna call her Loretta.  She is 18 months of age and is from Ghana; she should be here just before Christmas, according to their adoption agency that they're working with (Holt International).  They thought that they were done adopting for good, but God obviously had other ideas.  I've seen her picture, and she is so beautiful!

School is going well: I've managed to keep my grades up to a B average, which, for me, is monumental, considering that I have serious learning problems.  It's not easy, believe me, but if I want to reach my goal in being a meteorologist, I must do my best and study hard.

I did drop out while I was in Oklahoma for a time, but I'm now taking the classes I need online, and it is much easier, especially since I don't have to worry so much about being exposed to germs, which could only compromise my already fragile health state.  And I can work at my own pace, too, which is nice!

I'm still enrolled at Oklahoma University (BOOMER SOONER!!).

Well, it's high time I get off of here.  Tom and Jackie are here to help me get started for the day.  I will write in here again soon; besides, my back is spasming again and I could really use some relief about now! Ouch!!  I hate this; the spasms are the worst when it comes to having MD!  Too bad I don't have pain insensitivity disorder; that way I wouldn't feel the spasms!  MEH!

Take care and may God bless you as much as He's blessed Rebekka and myself!  We are incredibly blessed in so many ways, and we give God all the thanks and glory!

~Love, your friend in Tennesee, Johnathon.  :)