Yup, I am crazy

As I was running my last training run of 2 miles last night...and that seems ridiculous considering what I had been running... I got to thinking as to why I even signed up for this.

Not sure what I'm talking about??

I signed up for 26.2 miles.

A Marathon.

The girl who HATED running distance in high school. I was a sprinter. I liked going fast for a little bit LOL.

I ran my first half, I want to say 1 1/2 years ago but I might be wrong... it could be longer... Anyway, I ran it and I felt AWESOME. I felt like what the hell, let's go for a full and I bit the bullet and signed up for my first marathon.

After all the GRUELING training runs, bouts of illness, vacation, hip/knee pain, here I am.

But it of course makes me think of how did I get here.

And I know it's because of them.

My children that are no longer here with me.

They taught me that I am WAY stronger than I EVER gave myself credit for.

And while they might not be with me, with me. They are definitely with me. I feel them with the cooling breeze when I feel warm, I feel them when a song pops up on spotify/pandora and gives me a burst of energy or makes me think of them, I feel them when a butterfly/dragonfly fly at me straight on.

Yes 26.2 miles isn't going to be a cake walk, but I've done hard. I've done earth shattering. I CAN do this And know why?? Because they ARE running with me. <3

Good luck to everyone else running in the Lake Front Marathon this Sunday in Milwaukee!! See you there!! If you aren't running and are local, get your booties out there with some crazy whacky signs are cheer us all on for being crazy :)

WOW!

We could NOT have anticipated the chain reaction that took place on Dylan's birthday.

Have you seen the map?!?

Each star represents at LEAST one Random Act of Kindness that was done in Dylan's memory.

How cool is that?!?!

If you haven't already checked out our facebook page, you can find that here and see all the posts and pictures of people placing their RAOK and of people finding the RAOK!!

We would like to thank you for helping us get through the day to everyone that participated :)
There were still tears (at least on my end!) seeing all the RAOK being done and reading the texts and messages I received during the day with the stories of those RAOK. It was an incredible thing to be apart of.

I am not super great at taking compliments (just ask my husband LOL). A few people told me that I am amazing and that I have an incredible heart.

But if you recall, I told Dylan and Noah that I carry their heart(s), I carry them in MY heart. So if you think my heart has super powers, you'd be right.  I carry angel hearts in mine. <3

God bless you all, thank you again for celebrating Dylan's birthday with us!! XOXO

Happy birthday baby boy!

You would've been turning four years old today. Would you be into superheroes like Gabe? Would you love dinosaurs as much as Landon? Would you be talking constantly like me, or more quiet and reserved like daddy? How tall would you be, and would you have kept those amazing cheeks?!

 What movie would you want to watch over and over? What song would make you dance? Sing?


Would you fight us on what you'd wear everyday? Have to dress and feed yourself? How would you be in school? Chatterbox like me lol? I would've told you how many recesses I missed all because of talking during class. And I'll bet you would've listened and you would've played on recess.

Who would we have play dates with? Would you love trains as much as Ro? Would you love the zoo? Which animal would've been your favorite? Would you cry and beg for ice cream? Throw tantrums at target?

I would've loved to have seen you at four. To experience all of it. The good, the bad, and the ugly. ALL of it.

We decided to rally the troops in your honor today kiddo. A lot of people across the country will be doing good things for you today, so keep a look out. And even in another country!! (England thanks to the amazing Shaw family) And they're doing it all because of you kiddo. You made people want to be better. Better mommies. Better daddies. Better wives. Better husbands.


Better people.



You did this. I'm amazed everyday seeing what you've inspired in not only me and daddy, but so many people. People that never had the chance to know you. It makes me so SO proud to be your mommy.

I know you'll see everything that everyone does to celebrate you and your birthday today, but I will share some since kindness is contagious when shared <3 And we want to keep the movement going!!

Your friends Brady and Nathan at Aldi!

My amazing friend Elyse buying dunkin for a stranger <3

Coins for Kiddos

Your Buddy Ben over in England :)

Love you to the moon and back sweetheart! We celebrate you ALWAYS <3
Love,
Mommy

Random Act of Kindness Day in Honor of Dylan

So here it is family and friends: We are planning on doing Random acts of Kindness throughout the day on friday and are encouraging anyone who wants to help, to join us! I created an image that I'm putting on stickers, and making little notecards with that you are welcome to use smile emoticon

Ideas:

Buy the person in line behind you their coffee/bagel/McMuffin with a sticker/note attached smile emoticon
Leave bags of Hershey Kisses in random places with a note attached (in AC!!)
Leave quarters taped to a gumball machine with a note/sticker
Tape a bag of microwave popcorn to a red box machine with a note

No $$ No problem!

Set up a lemonade stand, and hand out free cups for a smile smile emoticon
Leave a cute post-it note (see pic for ideas)

Please then take a picture of your RAOK (if you can...otherwise please just come and tell us about it!) and post it on our D2D facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/devoted2dylan) so we can see all the kindness YOU are spreading in loving memory of our Dylan 

heart emoticon

Falling apart at the seams...

The last few days, I've been really teary...and I sort of just figured that time of the month was coming up (sorry Male readers) but as I was sitting here, crying for the nearly 5th time today it hit. "Duh, you idiot!"

It's so crazy how feelings and emotions of love, pain, grief (and others but these are mine right now) can just take over. You can fight it for only so long, and then it overflows. And even oozes out of your pores.

Crying is healthy and a release, sometimes I just wish I had more control of when it over takes me, lol.

It might be hard for some to understand why Mother's day is one of the worst holidays for me. But their birthdays are full of joy for me. It's the day I met them, face to face.  The day they passed away, well that day is the same as Noah's birthday and we choose to celebrate getting to hold our precious boy for those two hours he was here on Earth with us. The day we said goodbye to Dylan, while sad, was also wonderful. Dylan got to go home. He was able to leave the hospital and all the beeping behind him, feel the sun and be held by his immediate family and hear countless times how loved he was.

And not that I don't have a reminder every.single.day. that they aren't here...because I do, but Mother's day is like pouring a bottle of salt in an open wound.

So please keep me, and other mother's (ALL mothers!) in your thoughts and prayers on Sunday.

bereaved mother's day

Our walk is THIS Saturday!!

REALLY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
PLEASE SHARE with Milwaukee D2D walkers!

We have a team photo team scheduled with the photographer at 920 am. Please be in your green and ready before then if you want to be in the team picture this year!!! So try to be there at 9ish! We will be there!!!

The walk is in the same location as in previous years:

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2015 

Start time: 10:00 AM

Registration time: 9:00AM

Walk distance: 2 miles

O'Donnell Park

931 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53202

(414) 778-3500 | WI657@marchofdimes.org

#d2d100K

It is really difficult for me to find the words...and if you know me well, you know that doesn't happen often.

I am in awe of the people in our families,  of our friends, and the people that we met because of Dylan & Noah. Whether you walked with us in 2012, 2013, or last year; whether you started your own team after learning of all the work the March of Dimes does through our story; whether you donated $5 or $500 dollars...YOU made this happen.

We are $300 away from raising $100,000 for the March of Dimes.

As a mother who lost her boys, I can tell you that knowing my sons' stories live on in the hearts of so many...it is SO touching and SO comforting. It shows that whether you are here on earth for 2 months, 2 hours, or years more, YOU CAN make a difference. You CAN make this world a better place.

Thank you all for all of the support over the last few years. Thank you for allowing me to blast your facebook walls with March of Dimes info. Thank you for following my blog. Thank you for all the emails and private messages you have sent me, telling me that you think of my babies everyday. That you are a better wife/mother/father/husband because of it. That they will not ever be forgotten about. THANK YOU.

Want to help us raise that final $300??
Go here to donate: www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279

I have so much love for all of you that helped get us here <3 THANK YOU.
I'm crying now, so I will leave it at that :)

We still have our Lark & Juniper fundraiser going on until friday (4/10) here:
http://devoted2dylan.blogspot.com/2015/04/d2d-fundraiser.html

And maybe we will try to host a Pampered Chef, or Tastefully Simple fundraiser as well!
Let us know if you'd like to help us out with that!! :)

D2D fundraiser!!!

I wear this lark & juniper necklace every single day. I get compliments on it all the time,  The wonderful owner, and dear friend, is hosting an online fundraiser for us! A percentage your purchase will go to the March of Dimes, via our family team, Devoted to Dylan. It's a great time to get a beautiful l&j piece!

We have an Facebook party going on here: https://www.facebook.com/events/788742641246398/


If you aren't on Facebook, you can still participate in the fundraiser!
"Welcome to Jen's online party! I'm Lisa, the owner and artist behind lark & juniper. I'll be available to answer any questions you might have! Each photo has item numbers and links through to our website, where you'll see all of the items and the sizes. Everything on the site is available during the party, and please use the code D2D when you check out for free shipping and of course, to make sure that all of the rewards for this party go to March of Dimes team Devoted to Dylan! We'll have a few giveaways, too!Shopping for a great cause is the best kind of shopping!This event will be open until April 10th!"
Here's the link to the Lark&juniper shop : http://www.larkandjuniper.com/


You will NOT be disappointed! Lisa's pieces are beautiful and one of a kind!

HI gang!

So I apologize!

The facebook D2D page is where I have been doing all my updates lately.

We didn't have the best turn out for our Rock Bottom Fundraiser, but we still raised $178 for the March of Dimes, so I'll take that as a win.

We are 30 days away from the walk, and hopefully 30 days away from hitting our goal of $100,000!
We aren't there yet, but I know we will get there! Come Hell or High water, it'll happen. I'll go door-to-door if I have to!

We've got about $2700 more to raise!

If you'd like to walk with us, you can still sign up! It's FREE to walk! So why not?

If you can't walk, please donate to the cause!

Go here to sign up and walk, or to donate
http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279

Thank you for sticking around and seeing what we are up to! :)

LAST CHANCE!!

Last chance to get your D2D sweatshirts or tshirts!!! The order is going in at the end of the week!!

Here's how to order:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12HmGCAXJ_xUfyG8s2l6KVIOx-h0JbjBuxMyodtuqq1w/viewform?usp=send_form

If you have any questions, there's a spot on the form to do so :)

Get your green on!!

Friday night went well! PHEW! Being on the JumboTron was scary business! But hopefully we raised some money for the March of Dimes!

Here's a pic of us:

Notice how we are sporting our green?!?

I CANNOT wait for the hooded sweatshirts!!! SO excited!!

March Happenings

Lat minute reminder, if you aren't doing anything tonight come on down to the Admirals game at the Bradley Center!

Click Here to buy tickets to the Hockey Game


Check your emails!! Our brave little Noah was highlighted in the week's March of Dimes Newsletter!!

Didn't get one?? That's because you aren't signed up to walk with us yet :P
You should get on that! You are missing out on important information!!!

Sign up to walk Here

Don't forget about our Boozin' event coming up on Wed March 18th! It's a GREAT deal and 4 of your $5 is donated to the March of Dimes!

Hope to see you all there!!

Jen & Patrick

LOTS going on!!

hiya! So we've got A LOT going on LOL.

Are you all signed up to walk in this year's March of Dimes walk with us yet? NO??? WHY NOT??
Get on that ;) YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN MILWAUKEE!!

You can find a LOCAL walk and STILL be on our team honoring Dylan & Noah.

Sign up to walk here:
http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279

Can't walk on your city's day?? You can STILL donate :)

To donate to the March of Dimes in honor of Dylan & Noah go here:
http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279

Want to look amazingly awesome during your March of Dimes walk??

We are having custom Hooded Sweatshirts made this year! It's cold here in Wisconsin and we want to be able to show off our Dylan Green!

To order your sweatshirt go here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12HmGCAXJ_xUfyG8s2l6KVIOx-h0JbjBuxMyodtuqq1w/viewform



Lastly, we FINALLY created a team facebook page.  You can find out what is going on with the team, current fundraisers, and more ALL IN ONE PLACE!! Awesome, right???

To check that out, go here:
https://www.facebook.com/devoted2dylan

It was a HUGE success!

Thank you again to everyone that came out last weekend and supported The March of Dimes, and specifically our team, Devoted to Dylan!

Here are some wonderful pictures taken by my talented friend, Elysha Rice!

A HUGE thank you to Lisa and 

TGI Friday's Front Row!!!

Donation from Pandora's Box

Donation from lark & juniper

Donation from Beer Capital thanks to Patty Janke

Donation from Natural Valor Team and Essentially Crafted

Donation from Central Bark

Delicious donation from Julie Thomas

The reason we were all there.

And some photo booth favorites from the night thanks to MiPhotoBooth and our friends, the Leuteneggers!

Yup. This sums us up ;)

Cute couple wearing matching stripes!

Best family photo

Kissy Kissy!

The camera is riiight HERE....

Most fun in a photo booth goes to these two...

Very special people in this one! Two of Dylan's NICU drs!
And a special boy ;)

Cutest squeeze!

fun with props! I love the little guy peeking up with the Cheers! sign

these two took quite the series of pictures, lol

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!

and Drum roll please...

Thanks, Will!!

I feel the same way, Tina!!

So what now?!?! We need you, yes again! We need you to walk with us and raise money for the March of Dimes! We are only $4000 away from raising $100,000!!!! Help us get there!!

Go here to sign up:

 http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279