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Couple see God's hand in four new add-ons
Published 4/26/2010 in Local News
By AMY BICKEL
Special to The Telegram
For several years, the minister and his wife had prayed for one more child. Then, when Lance Morrisett found out his wife, Jennifer, was expecting last July, he took her to dinner in celebration of God's answer.
Yet, for months, the little nursery sat empty of furnishings — the walls still painted baby blue from when son Cullen was born five years before.
Pregnant with quadruplets, Jennifer Morrisett knew the possibilities.
"What if I didn't bring any home?" she said.
She says this as she peers down at her four tiny healthy babies — three boys and one girl — all sleeping peacefully in one crib tucked in the corner of the room now filled with blankets and quilts, a rocking chair and stuffed animals. A color chart on the wall keeps the family on schedule, while a signup sheet at area churches gives volunteering parishioners an opportunity to help with the seemingly endless cycle of bathes, feedings and diaper changes.
They had left for Arizona in November in an effort to do whatever they could to bring four babies home. Jennifer gained 100 pounds, was on limited bed rest and was under the care of one of the nation's best doctors when it comes to multiple births.
Then they prayed. Their congregation at Haven Church of Christ where Lance has preached for five years prayed. Friends and family prayed. They prayed for Jennifer's health, and the babies.
Now, just six weeks after the births of Emma, Kaden, Lane and Bennett, the family of seven are at home in Haven, returning Friday.
"It really feels like a daunting task, but if we just remember that God has blessed us with these four kids for some reason," Lance said. "He answered prayers. We asked him to bless us with a child, He just thought he'd add three more on top of it."
The possibility of having quadruplets was far from Jennifer and Lance's minds.
After two years of trying, they used intrauterine insemination to help Jennifer get pregnant. Doctors told them their chances of conceiving were only 20 percent.
Moreover, the possibility of multiple births seemed minute — 5 percent for twins and 1 percent for triplets.
The news left them speechless. Jennifer started crying as Lance put his head down on the table.
It wasn't the challenge of raising four babies that scared them, or the expense, Lance said. They worried about the health of the babies, as well as for Jennifer.
The couple knew having four meant a high-risk pregnancy — an instance that occurs about 300 to 400 times a year, on average, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Lance, however, stressed that reducing the number was never an option.
"We wanted to have all four babies," he said.
Their fertility specialist in Wichita, Dr. Bruce Tjaden, recommended expert perinatologist Dr. John Elliott, Lance said. He moved his family to Phoenix so his wife could receive care from the doctor.
Elliott called it a "picture-perfect" pregnancy. Jennifer Morrisett had no complications. She gave birth on her scheduled C-section date — 34 weeks into the pregnancy, on March 1.
Elliott said shortly after the delivery that the national average for a quadruplet pregnancy is 29.5 weeks. The hospital average is 32 weeks.
"It's pretty uncommon to get that far along," he said. "Thirty percent get to 34 weeks."
Moreover, Elliott told the Morrisetts, only a couple of his patients actually walked into the hospital for a scheduled C-section. Jennifer was one of them.
Things went remarkably smoothly for a quadruplet birth, Jennifer said. Emma was released from the hospital five days after she was born. Lane was released March 8; Bennett, March 10; and Kaden March 17.
According to the law of averages, Lance said, "we should still be in Arizona."
Their life is forever altered, Lance Morrisett says, but for the better.
It's centered on four babies and their 5-year-old son, Cullen, a kindergartner at Haven Elementary.
Sleep comes in spurts, between feedings and diaper changes every four hours.
Lance calls it ESP — "They eat, sleep and potty."
They change more than 30 diapers daily and go through more than a can of formula, which makes about 85 fluid ounces of milk.
However, they stay organized and on schedule, by color-coordinating their belongings, including pacifiers.
Their changing life, however, doesn't go without help.
Lance's former church in Texas gave the family a van filled with diapers. Jennifer's friends have gathered clothing, storing older sizes in tote containers. Meanwhile, congregation members and friends have flocked in, bringing food and volunteering to help feed the babies. They also do laundry, sterilize bottles and help with odd jobs.
"I knew they'd need help, and I can help," said Leila Emack, who attends Hutchinson's Church of Christ.
"We have a lot of willing volunteers," said Dixie Shoepf, a Haven congregation member who is organizing the volunteers.
Cullen, who on this day sported a shirt saying "Greatest big brother," balks at changing their diapers, but loves lending a helping hand, making sure the babies have the right color of pacifiers, as well as keeping them entertained.
"I like to hold them," he said.
Counting their blessings
Lance and Jennifer know the power of prayer.
When Lance steps up to the pulpit at Haven Church of Christ today for the first time in nearly four months, he'll preach on the subject to his congregation of 50.
He might share a personal story or two, he said with a smile.
"We're going to give credit where credit is due," Lance said. "God has a lot to do with it. The doctor had a lot to do with it. Jennifer's weight gain had a lot to do with it. Our physical therapist had a lot to do with it.
"We were at the right place, and God blessed us with the ability to get there."
Meet the quads: Emma Elizabeth, 4 pounds 9 ounces, born at 10:31 a.m.; Kaden Zachary, 5 pounds 2 ounces, born at 10:33 a.m.; Lane Dalston, 5 pounds 9 ounces, born at 10:34 a.m.; and Bennett Grant, 5 pounds 3 ounces, born at 10:45 a.m. Born: March 1, 2010 To: Lance and Jennifer Morrisett Relatives; Big brother Cullen, 5. Lance's stepfather, Clint Stamper, used to own the Western Auto store in downtown Hutchinson. His wife is Lance's mother, Vickie.
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