How to access Lee Family Slide Show

For those that have not seen the slide show of our family pics you can click on Jack Ryan Lee to the right under "Family slide show" or you can type in the website:
1. www.photodex.com/share
2. Then you go to sharing
3. click on browse member
4. type in member name: cameracraft
*These photos were taken one week after Jack was born. He was still in the NICU. The photographers took the pictures there in the hospital for us. Griffin had just met Jack for the first time about 5 minutes before they started snapping pics. This is the most beautiful treasure for me to have of this time in my family's life. I hope you enjoy.

Also please e-mail us at:
rlee1210@att.net

Jack's Progress and update on Griffin

While Jack was in the NICU they did a series of test on his heart, brain, kidneys, hands and feet. Everything checked out and was stable. Jack did not need surgery on his heart, PRAISE GOD. He only need a small amount of oxygen right after he was born. He was under photo therapy for jaundice, and he had to have a feeding tube for a small amount of time. Jack did not need any help to function and do what he needs to do to survive. We were able to leave the hospital so that Jack could come home and grow and thrive in his house surrounded by people who love him VERY much. Since Jack is so little we have met with our pediatrician and genetics doctor once a week since we came home. They check Jack's weight, height, and general functions to make sure his still doing all that he needs to do. They just LOVE Jack and we are all so proud of his progress. He is currently weighing 5 pounds and 6 1/2 oz. And he is 19 1/2 in. long. This is great progress for our little guy. We also have an on call nurse that will come to our house to check Jack's vital signs, weigh him, and just answer any questions that we may have. She is a joy! She loves Jack and Griffin and told us to consider her part of the family. We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many who love and support us. I can't wait for you all to meet Jack. He is a beautiful miracle to our family. We cherish his smiles, baby soft skin,the sweet sounds he makes, and even his cry (we say it sounds like a little lamb). I will keep you updated on his weight gain and progress. Please continue to pray for us and for Jack to continue to grow and prove the doctors wrong!!!
Griffin (the big sister, aka Sissy) is so proud of her brother. She turned 3 on May 12. She enjoys singing to Jack, helping with diaper changes, picking out Jack's outfits for the day, and holding her baby brother. She also enjoys dancing, laughing, and surprisingly playing on the computer. You should see her go! She loves laying Dora games on Noggin.com. Next Wednesday Griffin and her cousin Wynter start a ballet/tap class. Today we bought her tap and ballet shoes, a pink leotard, a black leotard with a beautiful skirt, two pairs of tights, and a super cool ballet bag for her classes. She can't wait to get started. Jack and I will enjoy watching "Griff" and "Wyn" dance and tap all over the place. I'll be posting pictures very soon of Griffin and Jack at home. We love you all and hope you enjoy our BLOG. God Bless you and your families.

Birth of Jack Ryan Lee

On June 10, 2008 I worked at my school all day and my doctors office called to see if I could come in for an early appointment. I was feeling good and my due date was 5 days away. So Ryan was at work and Griffin was at daycare. When I got on the ultra sound table the Dr. said "You have no fluid left, did your water break?" I said "No". They put me in a wheel chair right then and sent me down for an emergency C-Section. Jack was breech, so we had to move fast. I had also just eaten lunch so they were worried about operating. It was crazy. I called Ryan crying and beggin him to get to the hospital ASAP. The I called my cousin Missy. She said don't worry about Griffin, I'll take her to dance class with her. So Griffin did ballet while I gave birth to her baby brother. Ryan showed up in about 10 minutes straight from work. Luckily we had some great friends come to the rescue. Allison and Jeff came with clean cloths for Ryan. My Mom and Dad and sister, Sarah, were then in 2 hours flat. Other good friends came and helped us make phone calls; LK and Monica, and three teacher friends; Jennifer, Lisa, and Natahsa. We found out that Jack was not in distress, so we were able to wait a couple of hours to let my food settle. The doctors told everyone to leave the room and told me and Ryan that we needed to prepare for the worst. Ryan and I grabbed hands and told them that we had faith in God and his plan for us. I went in the operating room at 6:00pm and Jack Ryan Lee was born by C-Section at 6:17. He was crying and breathing and pink just like any typical newborn. I watched as Jack stuck his little thumb in his mouth showing us that he was hungry. These were all things that he did perfectly that the docs thought he would not do. They told us that he was 3 pounds and 14 oz. and 17 1/2 inches long. We were amazed and overjoyed that our miracle baby finally made it. The one we fought for and he fought for us too for SO long was in our arms and beautiful. Jack spent 9 days in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) at Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville. That was a whole other challenge that we could could not be more ready to get through and get home. We brought Jack home at 3 pounds and 15 oz.

Prayers and Faith

After that ultra sound we began a roller coaster of good news and bad news. At first his heart was bad, then good, then we were told he would need open heart surgery. It was always something. Then as we got farther along our ultra sounds showed that we were actually having a boy. We started getting very excited and hopeful, and scared at the same time. The prayers began and continued all over the country: Florida, Kansas, Georgia (including a local prison ministry of 150 inmates), Montana, Texas. Then spread around the world: A teacher friend of mine spent the summer in Greece and she and her mother lit a candle for Jack and our family at their church. Family and friends prayed and friends and family of our friends and family prayed. People who did not even know us prayed for us and followed our story. Everyone began cheering for Baby Boy Lee as he began to prove doctors wrong time and time again. Our doctors did not think we would survive pregnancy much less birth and life after birth. But our GOD IS SO GOOD! He gave us blessing both big and small just when we felt overwhelmed. I remember Ryan and I had just received some bad news from a doctor and we sat at our kitchen table crying, and felt like giving up. Then the phone rang and it was my Dad's friend Craig from Valdosta. I had only met him once or twice. Ryan answered the phone and Craig began to pray for us and quote the most beautiful scripture that we needed to hear at that moment. Needless to say it was a pick me up straight from God. These kind of things happened over and over. We had numerous people call and pray with us over the phone. Our preacher Ken Mick and two of our elders from Argyle church of Christ came and prayed with us. It was a beautiful experience that we will never forget. We truly felt God with us in that moment. We want to thank Argyle COC, Central Avenue COC, Mullinville COC, Grace Chapel COC, and many others around the contry for their support, prayers, cards, and phone calls. Thank you also for supporting our families that attend those churches.

The Pregnancy

Last October we found out we were expecting our second baby, and of course we were filled with excitement and joy. Our two-year old daughter (at that time), Griffin, was overjoyed about becoming a big sister. It started with the typical 2 months of morning sickness and tired out of my mind. I was still teaching school and chasing around a busy 2 year old, but things were going very well. Blood test came back normal, and we even had a 16 week ultra sound that showed we were having a girl. January came around and so did our 20 week ultra sound and check up. We went in so excited to see our baby. The ultra sound tech said everyhting was looking good, it did look like we were having girl, and then she said "Does anyone in your family have Club Feet? I think you baby has club feet." My heart dropped I had no idea what that even was. OF course I went and searched the Internet to find out. (i do NOT recomend seraching the Internet for medical cases, always WORSE cases including pictures) So then I cried for three days. The docs referred us to an ultra sound specialist here in Jacksonville. The Regional Obstetric Consultants (aka "The ROC"). We had no idea what we were getting into. I had just come to terms with the feet issues and the threapy that would be needed to fix our baby's feet. So we show up for the appointment and they begin the ultra sound. Theyar spending way too much time on the baby's hear tand brain without saying too much to us. That is when i ask them, "Is everything okay with the heart and brain?" The Dr. stops and says, "I'm afraid that there are multiple problems here and things do not look good." I about had a heart attack and Ryan just fell into the chair beside me with a thud. It was the last thing we ever expected to hear.