Jack's Bombers

This weekend turned out to be so great. Thank you to all who came out to support us. Thank you especially to Tessa and Leland whole put everything together. Ryan, Griffin, and I were so touched and humbled by this event. We know that Jack's little life was celebrated by our family and friends on that beautiful Saturday. We will never forget the opening ceremony and Griffin throwing out the first pitch to start off the games. We have really been blessed by the support we have been given the past year. Thank you for your prayers and love. Please continue to think of us as we continue facing emotional times as the days and months keep rolling in. Also as we try to find our "new normal", whatever normal is. We just know we are not the same as we were before, and that is okay. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures from the tournament. Ryan had a team to play as well as 26 mens' teams from Florida, Georgia, and even Alabama. Also 5 girls' teams, including Tessa's who all wore butterfly tattoos on their arms in honor of Jack. Thank you for the smallest details. It really meant a lot. There was also a table set up to display some of Jack's things including; our black and white photos of our family, Jack's baseball bat and ball, his little basball hat and shoes, the baseball outfit he wore to Wilson's tee-ballgame, the scrapebook I made him, and a poster that Tessa and Leland had made with all the sponsors listed, and that the proceeds went to us and to PedsCare.
The day was great with a lot of laughs, smiles, hugs, and cheering. Jack's Bombers won 2 games and lost 2. The last game went into two extra ennings because it was tied up. There were several players on our team who knocked them slam outta the park. Our team was good friends and coworkers from Jacksonville, family from Valdosta, and a good friend from Atlanta. Thank you guys for playing in honor of our baby boy.
Sunday on our way home, Ryan and I looked at each other in the car and just started crying at how wonderful the weekend turned out. I think we both had been holding back all of our emotions. They were tears of joy, saddness, and pride for Baby Jack. We love you Bubby, and know you enjoyed the scenes of the day as much as we did.

6th Annual Delta Chi Softball Tournament

A good friend of my family's, Tessa Green Wilkes, contacted us about a softball tournament in honor and memory of our Sweet Baby Jack. The following is the write up for the tournament.
Ryan has a team playing, and Griffin will be throwing out the first pitch of the games at an opening ceremony that starts at 8:00 am tomorrow Sat. Feb. 21st. morning. We are excited, nervous, and humbled by this very kind gift of love and support. We pray for good weather and safety of all travelling and playing. I also pray that this will honor the life of our precious baby.

Place: Freedom Park Complex, Valdosta, Georgia
Date: February 21st, 2009
BENEFIT:
Last year the members of Delta Chi helped the Simpson family raise money to assist with medical expenses for their daughter, Mary Elizabeth (“Emmy”).
This year's tournament will benefit the family of Jack Ryan Lee and Peds Care of Jacksonville, Florida.
Jack was the son of Ryan and Amanda Lee, and little brother to Griffin Lee, all of Jacksonville. Amanda is from Valdosta and is the daughter of Graham and Diane Fiveash. During a routine ultrasound, the doctors found a heart abnormality, however could not pinpoint exactly how to successfully treat the medical condition. Doctors even claimed the baby would not survive the pregnancy. To everyone's surprise, Jack was born weighing only 3lbs, 14 ounces, but displaying his strong will with a new born-infant cry. For the next few months he spent a great deal of time in and out of the NICU of the Baptist Hospital and Wolson's Hospital in Jacksonville.Jack had to undergo many tests; was put on oxygen; suffered from pneumonia, jaundice and seizures; and because his food often went into his windpipes, he needed a feeding tube to prevent choking. Through it all, he could still find the strength to smile just when his parents needed it most. Jack passed away in early November, 2008, leaving his family to carry on his cherished memory.
We would like to help them in doing so with the support of our community. A portion of these proceeds will be donated to Lee family for assistance with any medical, travel, and funeral expenses associated with Jack's life. The remaining proceeds will be donated to Peds Care of Jacksonville, Florida, in Jack's name. Peds Care, in collaboration with Community Hospice, provides a support network to families of children with life-threatening conditions, and in the Lee's case, became very dear friends to their family. We appreciate any contributions you may be able to offer to help the Lee family and Peds Care.

GENERAL INFORMATION:The Delta Chi Winterball Tournament is a local softball tournament hosted by the Valdosta Chapter of the Delta Chi Fraternity. This is the sixth year running, and each year the tournament is held to benefit a local cause. The tournament will be composed of teams from all over the state of Georgia and North Florida; college and open.

Happy Valentine's Day Bubby!!!

WE had a very nice Valentine's day. I cooked Griffin and Ryan a V-Day breakfast of waffles, eggs, and fresh strawberries. Then we opened some gifts. We got Ryan some pj bottoms with hearts. Griffin got a Minnie Mouse mail box filled with goodies from me and a rose and a balloon from her Dad. Ryan got me a dozen roses and a movie. We spent a laid back day around the house and then Me, Ryan, and Griffin went to Jeff and Allison's house for a V-Day meal with their little boy Carson, our friends LK and Monica, and their little girl Brooke. LK made chicken parm and Alfredo. It was SO good. Then the kids wrote notes and drew pictures on cards that we attached to balloons and sent up to Heaven for Baby Jack. It was a very sweet moment. It was dark outside so we could not get pictures of balloons in the air, but we got some cute ones of the kids.

My Valentine's gift to Jack was that I made his scrapbook. It turned out really nice. I took pictures of each page, and I'll try to post them this week. Some are hard to see but it turned out so good. Griffin and Ryan really like it. It will be so nice to have for Griffin and me to sit down and look through.

I hope that you all had a blessed day with your loved one.
Sincerely,
Amanda
Happy Valentine's Day to my family! I love you Ryan, Griffin, and Jack!!!! XOXOXO

Quote from Beth Moore Study

My friend Shannon and I were talking yesterday about Jack and her sweet baby Olivia, who is also in Heaven. I shared with her some of what I was feeling and she sent me this quote:

It's from the Beth Moore study A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place.

...Some Christians think God doesn't care whether our bodies are in shape or, frankly, what we do with them. That is simply not true. I'll always remember the words of a very good friend who lost a precious two-year-old son in an accident. I returned a few weeks after the funeral to minister to her in her tremendous pain. Instead, I learned a lot myself. She told me that as she stood over the casket, many well-meaning family members and friends said: "Ginny, walk away from it. He's not there anymore." Some of those same persons even dissuaded her from visiting the grave site to take fresh flowers: "He's not there, Ginny. He's with Jesus."She said: "Beth, I knew he wasn't in there anymore. I knew that better than anyone. I also know that his little soul and spirit are not in that grave. I know that! But the body that came from my own, that I held and kissed, the hair I washed and brushed, the hand I secured in mine as we walked across the street, the face I cherished, and the frame I rocked were in there. And I loved them!"Those were the most honest words I have ever heard a grieving person utter. If my friend - a mother made of flesh and blood who has relatively limited capabilities to love - could make such a statement, how much more our limitless Heavenly Father loves His children, our bodies and all! We are the works of His hands!

The words in BOLD sum up exactly how I feel. God help me! Amanda

8 months old

Today is the 10th. Eight months ago I was waiting at the hospital to give birth to Jack. It was the most scared in my life I have ever been. The feeling of panic was almost more than I could take. The Dr. came in telling me that he would probably never even take his first breath and that Ryan and I needed to decided if we wanted him on life support. I prayed through my whole C-Section. Ryan and I were both almost paralyzed with fear. My midwife, Grace (very appropriate), came in and held my hand while the Dr. performed the C-Section. The anasthesia (sp?) nurse took pictures for us, because we were both so shaken. They started at 6:00 pm, and Jack was born at 6:17pm. I'll never forget that little pink guy crying and sucking his thumb. Little 3 pounds and 14 oz. Even then they did not think he would live very long. I remember the nurse handing him to me and saying, "I wish things could be different." He went in the recovery room with us where we were greeted by friends and family. There were so many emotions in that room. We were excited he was here, and relieved that he was breathing and heart beating. Then his temperature began to drop so they rushed him to the NICU. Ryan followed as I continued to recover. Ryan stayed with him all night, and I did not get to see him again until later the next morning. He was very stable in the nursery. It all really seems like a lifetime ago. I feel like I am looking back on this from 10 years later, instead of just 8 mon. The experience has aged both me and Ryan. Someone metioned that Ryan looked different, almost wounded then before. I turned 30 in Nov., 5 days after Jack's funerel, but I felt like I was turning 40. I look at pictures of us early in our pregnancy or even with us and Griffin, and we have changed. Our eyes look different. They look brighter, almost more innocent or I guess just unaware of the saddness we would have to experience. Jack's life was a journey that we travelled and continue trying to make our way through. Ryan and I often talk of where do we go from here? What is our next step? I think we are just trying to coast right now or live in neautral.

I know I probably repeat myself in some of these blogs, but as each month rolls around I can't help but relive everything that happened. This time of month is extremely hard, because his birth date is the 10th, the day he passed away is the 12th, and his funereal date is the 15th. Even looking at the numbers breaks my heart. I am so thankful for the blessings that came along with Jack. His eyes told their own story of what he had to do the get here. It was almost like looking into the eyes of someone who had lived for 80 years. I guess he did live a whole lifetime. He just did his in a matter of 5 months and 2 days.

We miss you Jack, we carry you with us always; in everything we do and everywhere we go. Griffn loves you so much and asks about you everyday. She draws you pictures and sings you songs. Everytime we drive across the big, high bridges in Jacksonville, we roll down the windows and wave and blow you kisses. We figure that's the highest point we can get to, and a little closer to Heaven. Look for us and listen for us to shout your name, and that we love you.
Love, Mommy, Daddy, and Sissy

Playing Catch Up

I have not blogged in a while. I will use this time to post pictures and a quick update. Jack's headstone finally came in last week. We went to Valdosta to check things out, and spent some time visiting at Jack's grave and visitng with family in Valdosta. Sarah, Ryan, and I even took Griffin skating. She did not love it, but she gave it a good try and then felt very happy while playing at the Jungle Jims section of the skating rink. We also had a Valentine's party at church this past weekend. It was a 50s theme. Ryan and I are on the Fellowhip committee at church with 4-5 other couples who all plan the party events for the church. All the girls on the fellowship team wore pink jackets so we were the Pink Ladies. Everyone had a really good time. Some friends of ours, (who also go to church with us, on the fellowship team) have a yearly New Years's Eve party at their house and we had an 80s Prom theme that I helped plan and decorate for. We have been celebrating all this decades this year. So here are some of the many pics from those two parties and also Jack's new headstone. We love you Little Bubby. I am so happy with how it turned out.