tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33805974441255177502024-02-20T02:02:10.949-08:00Devoted to DylanDylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-72606637245917397742015-10-02T08:12:00.003-07:002015-10-02T08:12:23.224-07:00Yup, I am crazyAs 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.<br />
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Not sure what I'm talking about??<br />
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I signed up for 26.2 miles.<br />
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A Marathon.<br />
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The girl who HATED running distance in high school. I was a sprinter. I liked going fast for a little bit LOL.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />After all the GRUELING training runs, bouts of illness, vacation, hip/knee pain, here I am.<br />
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But it of course makes me think of how <i>did</i> I get here.<br />
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And I know it's because of <b>them</b>.<br />
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My children that are no longer here with me.<br />
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They taught me that I am WAY stronger than I EVER gave myself credit for.<br /><br />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.<br />
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Yes 26.2 miles isn't going to be a cake walk, but I've done hard. I've done earth shattering. I <b style="text-decoration: underline;">CAN</b> do this And know why?? Because they ARE running with me. <3<br />
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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 :)<br />
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<br />Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-31264344827917309502015-08-18T10:01:00.001-07:002015-08-18T10:02:05.909-07:00WOW!We could NOT have anticipated the chain reaction that took place on Dylan's birthday.<br />
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Have you seen the map?!?<br />
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Each star represents at LEAST one Random Act of Kindness that was done in Dylan's memory.<br />
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How cool is that?!?!<br />
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If you haven't already checked out our facebook page, you can find that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/devoted2dylan">here </a>and see all the posts and pictures of people placing their RAOK and of people finding the RAOK!!<br />
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We would like to thank you for helping us get through the day to everyone that participated :)<br />
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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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<br />
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God bless you all, thank you again for celebrating Dylan's birthday with us!! XOXODylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-67350778005773958612015-08-14T06:40:00.002-07:002015-08-14T10:30:42.620-07:00Happy birthday baby boy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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?!<br />
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What movie would you want to watch over and over? What song would make you dance? Sing?<br />
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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.<br />
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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?<br />
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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.<br />
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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 <b>better</b>. <b>Better</b> mommies. <b>Better</b> daddies. <b>Better </b>wives. <b>Better</b> husbands.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Better people.</span></b><br />
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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.<br />
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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!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkTmEFpHRJfthcESR-_wfRB9M4GxzXiA1IwSJvV6UukurAeVnwLuJK3EXbmAN3xXYQnMUeMl4bBjVRZZPMxZpnS6jNRC9cqbjgFYwu79awwW3NFnDPqOt933uLnNyNykAufHOsXjfd58/s1600/11866291_10101627052924772_6060375787362646115_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkTmEFpHRJfthcESR-_wfRB9M4GxzXiA1IwSJvV6UukurAeVnwLuJK3EXbmAN3xXYQnMUeMl4bBjVRZZPMxZpnS6jNRC9cqbjgFYwu79awwW3NFnDPqOt933uLnNyNykAufHOsXjfd58/s320/11866291_10101627052924772_6060375787362646115_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your friends Brady and Nathan at Aldi!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My amazing friend Elyse buying dunkin for a stranger <3</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coins for Kiddos</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your Buddy Ben over in England :)</td></tr>
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Love you to the moon and back sweetheart! We celebrate you ALWAYS <3<br />
Love,<br />
Mommy<br />
<br />Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-58743319023221482562015-08-12T07:48:00.001-07:002015-08-12T07:48:14.511-07:00Random Act of Kindness Day in Honor of Dylan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqkgk43-QOY_1sU5zYC0ifluwUULHwCq2hIwz1aXcCCV5T-1Nln_-1beQm6Baot431sTgoWqDYX3FuiffrPpWaefvbBeLdHKWEdQ6JKKXdFi57fQYHTLenuyA_hGE3I9Se6bjXf0gsck/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-08-12+at+8.07.53+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqkgk43-QOY_1sU5zYC0ifluwUULHwCq2hIwz1aXcCCV5T-1Nln_-1beQm6Baot431sTgoWqDYX3FuiffrPpWaefvbBeLdHKWEdQ6JKKXdFi57fQYHTLenuyA_hGE3I9Se6bjXf0gsck/s320/Screen+shot+2015-08-12+at+8.07.53+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">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 <i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;"><br /></u><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;"><br /></u></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Ideas:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Buy the person in line behind you their coffee/bagel/McMuffin with a sticker/note attached <i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i><br />Leave bags of Hershey Kisses in random places with a note attached (in A<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">C!!)<br />Leave quarters taped to a gumball machine with a note/sticker<br />Tape a bag of microwave popcorn to a red box machine with a note</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lKhUO1JnO_PMiVhzuPxKd8LJk71HiF8zg_q-msL7zraQ4X20jDohp4Q3wBFSwACcQ8JmSIo2UEztenFvIHG4xxjjSrqJJ0uN_ZbZjw1g7fLa442dwV9p_X3GW5qqyyJpOKydNuJMKug/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-08-12+at+8.08.43+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lKhUO1JnO_PMiVhzuPxKd8LJk71HiF8zg_q-msL7zraQ4X20jDohp4Q3wBFSwACcQ8JmSIo2UEztenFvIHG4xxjjSrqJJ0uN_ZbZjw1g7fLa442dwV9p_X3GW5qqyyJpOKydNuJMKug/s320/Screen+shot+2015-08-12+at+8.08.43+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">No $$ No problem!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Set up a lemonade stand, and hand out free cups for a smile <i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i><br />Leave a cute post-it note (see pic for ideas)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h5_6t_wnbwcO4MbIJmHym9ltWzfIiy02sbTS34UIIWJmCxcmvN9u7yu8osHp2Kg5BxhaYSNtPUyQh1tSNAc72PO4GmYc0oKS8B7-7mILWjcgKvCh0h5xocZK_4QxvRaXEHpLa-edXtI/s1600/roakcollage2014font.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h5_6t_wnbwcO4MbIJmHym9ltWzfIiy02sbTS34UIIWJmCxcmvN9u7yu8osHp2Kg5BxhaYSNtPUyQh1tSNAc72PO4GmYc0oKS8B7-7mILWjcgKvCh0h5xocZK_4QxvRaXEHpLa-edXtI/s400/roakcollage2014font.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">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 <a href="https://www.blogger.com/(https://www.facebook.com/devoted2dylan)">(https://www.facebook.com/devoted2dylan)</a> so we can see all the kindness YOU are spreading in loving memory of our Dylan </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqaVQmOywFwLQuU4DJS3NC9ajxkm40YCsXqAWgMo-AfImfyLHYYa_-L3JiOen-Q3OOi6nxNosMq8Lspb6s3ZuK0ZHBQnWuGxaHrxOCamx50J8hvW8O1WNDXIFv6vR2vF62F19DyCTis0/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-08-12+at+8.09.48+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqaVQmOywFwLQuU4DJS3NC9ajxkm40YCsXqAWgMo-AfImfyLHYYa_-L3JiOen-Q3OOi6nxNosMq8Lspb6s3ZuK0ZHBQnWuGxaHrxOCamx50J8hvW8O1WNDXIFv6vR2vF62F19DyCTis0/s320/Screen+shot+2015-08-12+at+8.09.48+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_62a652" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -204px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">heart emoticon</span></u><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;"><br /></u></i></div>
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Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-25856906398087769772015-05-08T13:32:00.001-07:002015-05-08T13:32:06.865-07:00Falling 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!"<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Crying is healthy and a release, sometimes I just wish I had more control of when it over takes me, lol.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
So please keep me, and other mother's (<u><b>ALL</b></u> mothers!) in your thoughts and prayers on Sunday.Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-74337905917590475912015-05-03T07:47:00.003-07:002015-05-03T07:47:33.915-07:00bereaved mother's day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwallF_l9UGsIXxVPK2sUydDIJQu9nXejkjh87D-0nfAl4VWf8rUpLlz5DOEu-HnA6UIxv0d2x3sGPnfAjPVSCI8nNxGc3blbeX-SPZB8ZQaVoYhe_Q0_XGRpNrRGaO_SnaQP9DYDeso/s1600/2015-05-03+09.41.49.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwallF_l9UGsIXxVPK2sUydDIJQu9nXejkjh87D-0nfAl4VWf8rUpLlz5DOEu-HnA6UIxv0d2x3sGPnfAjPVSCI8nNxGc3blbeX-SPZB8ZQaVoYhe_Q0_XGRpNrRGaO_SnaQP9DYDeso/s1600/2015-05-03+09.41.49.png" height="640" width="434" /></a></div>
<br />Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-88898729562433787062015-04-20T14:23:00.004-07:002015-04-20T14:23:54.739-07:00Our walk is THIS Saturday!!<div style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: inherit;">REALLY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!<br />PLEASE SHARE with Milwaukee D2D walkers!</span></div>
<div style="display: inline; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: inherit;">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!!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: inherit;">The walk is in the same location as in previous years:</span><br /></div>
<div class="calendarContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 13.3333320617676px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 273px;">
<div class="eventDate" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 8px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="day" style="border: 0px; color: #d474b1; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;">Date: Saturday, April 25, 2015</span> <div class="calendar" style="background-image: url(https://www.marchforbabies.org/march/_images2013/calendar.png); border: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 21px;">
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<div class="eventTime" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="timeDescription" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Start time:</span> <span class="timeValue" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10:00 AM</span></div>
<div class="eventTime" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="timeDescription" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Registration time:</span> <span class="timeValue" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9:00AM</span></div>
<div class="eventTime" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="timeDescription" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Walk distance:</span> <span class="timeValue" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2 miles</span></div>
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<div class="eventPlace" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 13.3333320617676px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 273px;">
<div class="address" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline-block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 273px;">
O'Donnell Park</div>
<div class="addressDetailed" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline-block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 230px; min-height: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 70px 0px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 206px;">
<table style="background-color: transparent; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 15.5px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="205"><div class="tdEventAddress" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 205px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 205px !important;">
931 E. Wisconsin Ave.</div>
</td><td style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 15.5px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mapIt" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 27px; margin: -10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: -6px; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 63px;" title="Map for Milwaukee">
<div style="background: url(https://www.marchforbabies.org/march/_images2013/mapit_btn.png) 0px 50% no-repeat; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; height: 27px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 53px;">
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</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td class="tdEventAddress" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 15.5px; margin: 0px; min-width: 205px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 205px !important;" width="205">Milwaukee, WI 53202</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="contacts" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline-block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 273px;">
(414) 778-3500 | WI657@marchofdimes.org</div>
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Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-50096108790266986122015-04-07T12:04:00.001-07:002015-04-07T12:04:55.433-07:00#d2d100KIt is really difficult for me to find the words...and if you know me well, you know that doesn't happen often.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-AMknwznH5ctJ0IfoPLY9L6gFfBFfPlZyMrrQU4B9D14_3EFbtp4i5sNaqtmU9AOB0R8PnUrQd7KjIszfuFkU-NJhyJyzl9qsyprIFwrbbNkjY7Tpg61rWItFXiO___F-2LCi-bf1EI/s1600/300away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-AMknwznH5ctJ0IfoPLY9L6gFfBFfPlZyMrrQU4B9D14_3EFbtp4i5sNaqtmU9AOB0R8PnUrQd7KjIszfuFkU-NJhyJyzl9qsyprIFwrbbNkjY7Tpg61rWItFXiO___F-2LCi-bf1EI/s1600/300away.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
We are $300 away from raising $100,000 for the March of Dimes.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
<br />
Want to help us raise that final $300??<br />
Go here to donate: <a href="http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279">www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279</a><br />
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I have so much love for all of you that helped get us here <3 THANK YOU.<br />
I'm crying now, so I will leave it at that :)<br />
<br />
We still have our Lark & Juniper fundraiser going on until friday (4/10) here:<br />
<a href="http://devoted2dylan.blogspot.com/2015/04/d2d-fundraiser.html">http://devoted2dylan.blogspot.com/2015/04/d2d-fundraiser.html</a><br />
<br />
And maybe we will try to host a Pampered Chef, or Tastefully Simple fundraiser as well!<br />
Let us know if you'd like to help us out with that!! :)<br />
<br />Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-77387279684707363842015-04-02T12:18:00.001-07:002015-04-02T12:18:21.440-07:00D2D fundraiser!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRiJ8eaRPD8dj6Fc3VUfeVr3DNf4KTeDMZ3QURqPwZOHr2oKwWXKP6pt05qiW7pvXorApdIre9tALhcGNkvkp64_XZY75teYU4UkK-700KGEqD5OYV5HPstvQZusKK_mcXg4EkmA-Dkw/s1600/l&jnecklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRiJ8eaRPD8dj6Fc3VUfeVr3DNf4KTeDMZ3QURqPwZOHr2oKwWXKP6pt05qiW7pvXorApdIre9tALhcGNkvkp64_XZY75teYU4UkK-700KGEqD5OYV5HPstvQZusKK_mcXg4EkmA-Dkw/s1600/l&jnecklace.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">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! </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">A percentage your purchase will go to the March of Dimes, via our family team, Devoted to Dylan. </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">It's a great time to get a beautiful l&j piece!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">We have an Facebook party going on here: </span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/788742641246398/">https://www.facebook.com/events/788742641246398/</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">If you aren't on Facebook, you can still participate in the fundraiser!</span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="line-height: 18.7600002288818px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">"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!</span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Shopping for a great cause is the best kind of shopping!</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">This event will be open until April 10th!"</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Here's the link to the Lark&juniper shop : </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;"><a href="http://www.larkandjuniper.com/">http://www.larkandjuniper.com/</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">You will NOT be disappointed! Lisa's pieces are beautiful and one of a kind!</span></span>Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-89108363262981350902015-03-26T12:25:00.002-07:002015-03-26T12:25:38.654-07:00HI gang!So I apologize!<br />
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The facebook D2D page is where I have been doing all my updates lately.<br />
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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.<br />
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We are 30 days away from the walk, and hopefully 30 days away from hitting our goal of $100,000!<br />
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!<br />
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We've got about $2700 more to raise!<br />
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If you'd like to walk with us, you can still sign up! It's FREE to walk! So why not?<br />
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If you can't walk, please donate to the cause!<br /><br />Go here to sign up and walk, or to donate<br />
<a href="http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279">http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279</a><br />
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Thank you for sticking around and seeing what we are up to! :)Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-36832528452192379022015-03-09T13:37:00.001-07:002015-03-09T13:37:38.443-07:00LAST CHANCE!!Last chance to get your D2D sweatshirts or tshirts!!! The order is going in at the end of the week!!<br />
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Here's how to order:<br />
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<span class="s1"><a href="https://owamail.mcw.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=t0TZ68CbP0aouHOc7q7A3AQ9Q-44LtIII8GNWN-m1-eFDu4FCOKubWGrdE7MMF2LOml0Z2p3Ov0.&URL=https%3a%2f%2fdocs.google.com%2fforms%2fd%2f12HmGCAXJ_xUfyG8s2l6KVIOx-h0JbjBuxMyodtuqq1w%2fviewform%3fusp%3dsend_form">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12HmGCAXJ_xUfyG8s2l6KVIOx-h0JbjBuxMyodtuqq1w/viewform?usp=send_form</a></span></div>
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If you have any questions, there's a spot on the form to do so :)</div>
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Get your green on!!</div>
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Friday night went well! PHEW! Being on the JumboTron was scary business! But hopefully we raised some money for the March of Dimes!</div>
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Here's a pic of us:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pIYXaDn5cHUOWVNJw1Jw5wUuUNotJqRHDvqan_HFbeSVoFO2UHVvrPkNWzXpNL_acMceWtiQh9320HTLRjWX3LPdcVivWqVLwRbHo6PloB9VCEcgK-2pACll03PgEU87SdsA9B3vPe8/s1600/11009850_10152547458496525_2436263197294205879_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pIYXaDn5cHUOWVNJw1Jw5wUuUNotJqRHDvqan_HFbeSVoFO2UHVvrPkNWzXpNL_acMceWtiQh9320HTLRjWX3LPdcVivWqVLwRbHo6PloB9VCEcgK-2pACll03PgEU87SdsA9B3vPe8/s1600/11009850_10152547458496525_2436263197294205879_n.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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Notice how we are sporting our green?!?</div>
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I CANNOT wait for the hooded sweatshirts!!! SO excited!!</div>
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Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-33451761327944367532015-03-06T11:17:00.002-08:002015-03-06T11:17:55.358-08:00March HappeningsLat minute reminder, if you aren't doing anything tonight come on down to the Admirals game at the Bradley Center!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwi2FOWoXLTWWXpX4iDs9EoKDa1HLFcoOjhaee8YCAE7HLMHxqGhE3hQRoHRiQDHcxCfk-P4hcZSOfblf9hr7sIU5tvbt0Wm0qA6v-jcrqEawKgkFVcukIoB7JH0y2rQcNEV9z1FHarK4/s1600/3244-mod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwi2FOWoXLTWWXpX4iDs9EoKDa1HLFcoOjhaee8YCAE7HLMHxqGhE3hQRoHRiQDHcxCfk-P4hcZSOfblf9hr7sIU5tvbt0Wm0qA6v-jcrqEawKgkFVcukIoB7JH0y2rQcNEV9z1FHarK4/s1600/3244-mod.jpg" /></a></div>
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Click <a href="http://www.milwaukeeadmirals.com/marchofdimes">Here</a> to buy tickets to the Hockey Game<br />
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Check your emails!! Our brave little Noah was highlighted in the week's March of Dimes Newsletter!!<br />
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Didn't get one?? That's because you aren't signed up to walk with us yet :P<br />You should get on that! You are missing out on important information!!!<br />
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Sign up to walk <a href="http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279">Here</a><br /><br />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!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiutTNC_ICWs9g_hSLGoPH8SStqJgQvs8wv25N6FU2izeXyeconS2b6ZFZCnv6jYTir3ObOajSF9hxEaXZo6h3XAvd89swUf91AXC9dWrTdmf4BmikB_7Ks4X8sTs8LT9sG05Z8qIIlc/s1600/March%20Tapping.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiutTNC_ICWs9g_hSLGoPH8SStqJgQvs8wv25N6FU2izeXyeconS2b6ZFZCnv6jYTir3ObOajSF9hxEaXZo6h3XAvd89swUf91AXC9dWrTdmf4BmikB_7Ks4X8sTs8LT9sG05Z8qIIlc/s1600/March%20Tapping.tiff" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
Hope to see you all there!!<br />
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Jen & PatrickDylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-12566459073895667552015-02-24T10:21:00.001-08:002015-02-24T10:21:01.529-08:00LOTS going on!!hiya! So we've got A LOT going on LOL.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexqFJCVmuIaoe-OyS_tBMPZw9jO7xbAUmkPgLMmKyN7mkTk_CwiOui2iwGi6PlSJLlbbMPEVXOx2xHsBUT6C5HJd0xaGJAf8Fb1BEGK-D3j-BkwCuUYIAOqD3Csqt72bE2xqvizjMcp0/s1600/1240110_10151560865251525_332380424_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexqFJCVmuIaoe-OyS_tBMPZw9jO7xbAUmkPgLMmKyN7mkTk_CwiOui2iwGi6PlSJLlbbMPEVXOx2xHsBUT6C5HJd0xaGJAf8Fb1BEGK-D3j-BkwCuUYIAOqD3Csqt72bE2xqvizjMcp0/s1600/1240110_10151560865251525_332380424_n.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
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Are you all signed up to walk in this year's March of Dimes walk with us yet? NO??? <b>WHY NOT</b>??<br />
Get on that ;) YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN MILWAUKEE!!<br />
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You can find a <b>LOCAL</b> walk and <b>STILL</b> be on our team honoring Dylan & Noah.<br />
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Sign up to walk here:<br /><a href="http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279">http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279</a><br />
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Can't walk on your city's day?? You can <b>STILL</b> donate :)<br />
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To donate to the March of Dimes in honor of Dylan & Noah go here:<br />
<a href="http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279">http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBA4bssjIadVpyUOLJUQilBCsxvjJNFn37v1JSKBbmIEpjlC-XUSvkrwNo3TpmO5XG0WdAq5cyECQbhUTEY2NSaY4jiXmEmtVgxVQKRAEq0FW3itvavR_MDacMmcTH5O_AvHlG4_HrWc/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBA4bssjIadVpyUOLJUQilBCsxvjJNFn37v1JSKBbmIEpjlC-XUSvkrwNo3TpmO5XG0WdAq5cyECQbhUTEY2NSaY4jiXmEmtVgxVQKRAEq0FW3itvavR_MDacMmcTH5O_AvHlG4_HrWc/s1600/image.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLQMCgFXNteDI8pDxyWP6oEMmmF9lxZKz1NJET21ly7M2pjNpYr2GQGT_K11voSfI-bebr4dONhix9-MGcJC5BouUuO7xMbORmNi2G-0ntU93w07Pd21KdCX-DWj2u3U24-8vFuD-Fhk/s1600/MOD-218a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLQMCgFXNteDI8pDxyWP6oEMmmF9lxZKz1NJET21ly7M2pjNpYr2GQGT_K11voSfI-bebr4dONhix9-MGcJC5BouUuO7xMbORmNi2G-0ntU93w07Pd21KdCX-DWj2u3U24-8vFuD-Fhk/s1600/MOD-218a.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Want to look amazingly awesome during your March of Dimes walk??<br />
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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!<br />
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To order your sweatshirt go here:<br /><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12HmGCAXJ_xUfyG8s2l6KVIOx-h0JbjBuxMyodtuqq1w/viewform">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12HmGCAXJ_xUfyG8s2l6KVIOx-h0JbjBuxMyodtuqq1w/viewform</a><br />
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Lastly, we <b>FINALLY</b> created a team facebook page. You can find out what is going on with the team, current fundraisers, and more <b>ALL IN ONE PLACE</b>!! Awesome, right???<br /><br />To check that out, go here:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/devoted2dylan">https://www.facebook.com/devoted2dylan</a>Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-51107759380888005242015-02-16T10:19:00.001-08:002015-02-20T11:27:59.033-08:00It was a HUGE success!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thank you again to everyone that came out last weekend and supported The March of Dimes, and specifically our team, Devoted to Dylan!</div>
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Here are some wonderful pictures taken by my talented friend, Elysha Rice!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzz0gcXw0C6aZrn4VoofRqrxjTpjcftu8Q0rK2qlSXqwyfbrvqeKMLcmouxXenqvhKhPUqSFQhyphenhyphenrO-vjW21fOyi_r5boO26sL16OHXnCDJBgibwFooUbqUHRpZfN8QNO13e05JU4g_xY/s1600/10959508_10102892348741740_5450551779397481459_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzz0gcXw0C6aZrn4VoofRqrxjTpjcftu8Q0rK2qlSXqwyfbrvqeKMLcmouxXenqvhKhPUqSFQhyphenhyphenrO-vjW21fOyi_r5boO26sL16OHXnCDJBgibwFooUbqUHRpZfN8QNO13e05JU4g_xY/s1600/10959508_10102892348741740_5450551779397481459_n.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A HUGE thank you to Lisa and
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TGI Friday's Front Row!!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUgq-l_MSC01fdNk3BHG2EfXN4hKgoaWKKsZDgAX4PMFhffNPoFhFWoxFPgC98INba_ZGx7DktPtKKefgtfi0YRpzDFUpsQ19NGU2MFfpbe3wUImUesPpz_mTdMMphFS4HLe2RGde2Lk/s1600/1596693_10102892347903420_8271860408322673256_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUgq-l_MSC01fdNk3BHG2EfXN4hKgoaWKKsZDgAX4PMFhffNPoFhFWoxFPgC98INba_ZGx7DktPtKKefgtfi0YRpzDFUpsQ19NGU2MFfpbe3wUImUesPpz_mTdMMphFS4HLe2RGde2Lk/s1600/1596693_10102892347903420_8271860408322673256_o.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donation from Pandora's Box</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN8WnElRhbbqSIqobfSLwR8dtsFi6MOfNEL3PP9iOTWyhXzUkr6whyphenhyphenBcpdZaZkkP93eWsLtm5m4R0HJxoGWUjymCi32cPaEODk2p-Rwumx5YYkaJbNwbJwLFN-uUb5LdaJJelQ0s5ZgQ/s1600/11081_10102892348277670_4115520184166779063_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN8WnElRhbbqSIqobfSLwR8dtsFi6MOfNEL3PP9iOTWyhXzUkr6whyphenhyphenBcpdZaZkkP93eWsLtm5m4R0HJxoGWUjymCi32cPaEODk2p-Rwumx5YYkaJbNwbJwLFN-uUb5LdaJJelQ0s5ZgQ/s1600/11081_10102892348277670_4115520184166779063_n.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donation from lark & juniper</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLsNqgmPj8j7jzP3OrBItPGzTjqhvLrY5pjJC9a6o6oc43kGT7ZyFKJvRyFxYIERXe66VVagUei__rxPecM6g88DSuOE4eHmU3R1YYk1_-K2aN5DB_aGbkoDIqOIxyP21-YUm0bl7Kss/s1600/10460527_10102892348227770_4016107858596251460_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLsNqgmPj8j7jzP3OrBItPGzTjqhvLrY5pjJC9a6o6oc43kGT7ZyFKJvRyFxYIERXe66VVagUei__rxPecM6g88DSuOE4eHmU3R1YYk1_-K2aN5DB_aGbkoDIqOIxyP21-YUm0bl7Kss/s1600/10460527_10102892348227770_4016107858596251460_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donation from Beer Capital thanks to Patty Janke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmrLmTyRqk16XOA2_TB9OVVRsfi7ro61yh_IlzCDscK3roWBLBqw6hVUOcFN-lyYxlfl4SFTm5-V18fFN3dbtBQEWTImmx17mIB9140uWmCkL17tE42Kt_QqfCknEyFSstrytPICZwCk/s1600/10923656_10102892347968290_459974449099253627_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmrLmTyRqk16XOA2_TB9OVVRsfi7ro61yh_IlzCDscK3roWBLBqw6hVUOcFN-lyYxlfl4SFTm5-V18fFN3dbtBQEWTImmx17mIB9140uWmCkL17tE42Kt_QqfCknEyFSstrytPICZwCk/s1600/10923656_10102892347968290_459974449099253627_n.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donation from Natural Valor Team and Essentially Crafted</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtCw7U3S5VrEIN3wzf_RHU9JGum4BuUmosf4nHxi5sNDHRZHPu52_vcpTN-QitiUN-uHCEnz-WGf89jqT2WDiBP59LGos6IcG2S99ndU5uN5nLlqcR5plIHLA2LvzmT35JZsIkDx0cZQ/s1600/10982896_10102892348621980_3440853783220527202_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtCw7U3S5VrEIN3wzf_RHU9JGum4BuUmosf4nHxi5sNDHRZHPu52_vcpTN-QitiUN-uHCEnz-WGf89jqT2WDiBP59LGos6IcG2S99ndU5uN5nLlqcR5plIHLA2LvzmT35JZsIkDx0cZQ/s1600/10982896_10102892348621980_3440853783220527202_n.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donation from Central Bark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluIX3_LTxgBh1HVGcpdtWAr0EmauDUIENbXSelV9_7XnFkQl1xEXMiCC5SIJ-WVxWPQDIzLvv8CE-bHmioVM8-iimd_zbJVwRPR7cu7Eetd-LvUg3pE1589nQDUlDxfw0V1MSHvGvwa8/s1600/10982896_10102892348716790_8292662401387334281_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluIX3_LTxgBh1HVGcpdtWAr0EmauDUIENbXSelV9_7XnFkQl1xEXMiCC5SIJ-WVxWPQDIzLvv8CE-bHmioVM8-iimd_zbJVwRPR7cu7Eetd-LvUg3pE1589nQDUlDxfw0V1MSHvGvwa8/s1600/10982896_10102892348716790_8292662401387334281_n.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious donation from Julie Thomas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-34uqQ2ga_gZrtUm9lbzT-bkgxIlKJryfXhXd_5_-s4pTeghntmAWY_0apVgZ3YylcYVahemFZe7oc84qA4iR25dXrWvmZNXPLIU1qmHE-aV27NzUTmduAaiHaPAAQPAj9k33zBjt8M/s1600/10959853_10102893370464200_4582422673220656725_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-34uqQ2ga_gZrtUm9lbzT-bkgxIlKJryfXhXd_5_-s4pTeghntmAWY_0apVgZ3YylcYVahemFZe7oc84qA4iR25dXrWvmZNXPLIU1qmHE-aV27NzUTmduAaiHaPAAQPAj9k33zBjt8M/s1600/10959853_10102893370464200_4582422673220656725_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The reason we were all there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
And some photo booth favorites from the night thanks to MiPhotoBooth and our friends, the Leuteneggers!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwCg9hp-NvgLJTlnAS61fMznJslAHEreUrUw7nCHRhHXxP3bYkKUXK6F3h3I3HkXrkJS4wbVwG6iv28wO7pXXRC5wROx8OEnnjBzNe3g-7P5F9GvOXOEp_rKN7esSkZt0Qvk5ndzPQME/s1600/113065-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwCg9hp-NvgLJTlnAS61fMznJslAHEreUrUw7nCHRhHXxP3bYkKUXK6F3h3I3HkXrkJS4wbVwG6iv28wO7pXXRC5wROx8OEnnjBzNe3g-7P5F9GvOXOEp_rKN7esSkZt0Qvk5ndzPQME/s1600/113065-XL.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup. This sums us up ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelmo9RnoEdJdN8TMWoVu7vVuisz-D7MAF68leytqtsaVM44RLcLbi8OyKxfORUPg1ScBJV2nRNpK2_0Nwn0PQu4jvMUbVkMvwSRjVjK3BotS3J1zO2JkvzeZd3ofQDn4t4yTzfMVXfnc/s1600/113036-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelmo9RnoEdJdN8TMWoVu7vVuisz-D7MAF68leytqtsaVM44RLcLbi8OyKxfORUPg1ScBJV2nRNpK2_0Nwn0PQu4jvMUbVkMvwSRjVjK3BotS3J1zO2JkvzeZd3ofQDn4t4yTzfMVXfnc/s1600/113036-XL.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute couple wearing matching stripes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9KJKMlvPQvn3bW00H_LDP7jjXp32GQh9OJ2LVeNMkZq05nDPHynGuv13gX10RGhY8oGhkPp-pVSnGBdfidFDO304-q4WDj9cEnnuVmgQA-YLKzAfZ2B21AdOVOVa0mpl2suNAoKius/s1600/113046-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9KJKMlvPQvn3bW00H_LDP7jjXp32GQh9OJ2LVeNMkZq05nDPHynGuv13gX10RGhY8oGhkPp-pVSnGBdfidFDO304-q4WDj9cEnnuVmgQA-YLKzAfZ2B21AdOVOVa0mpl2suNAoKius/s1600/113046-XL.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnbNPAnpgI3rMr4HwIfrInbDMfe-Ih-JIpIcZ_5IBUlRvl_o7LmkVkfyrv37OMp9LwKndO5S7Fu8wHRXh3LdW78UEF6OU8iYINu9FoDbq0dm9qq2w6hKdEAdNl91rQdYYdjESZDcNUIQ/s1600/113051-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnbNPAnpgI3rMr4HwIfrInbDMfe-Ih-JIpIcZ_5IBUlRvl_o7LmkVkfyrv37OMp9LwKndO5S7Fu8wHRXh3LdW78UEF6OU8iYINu9FoDbq0dm9qq2w6hKdEAdNl91rQdYYdjESZDcNUIQ/s1600/113051-XL.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahsDfz67I-vRpbEAktw0vfUc7ZFkI4piSynRHpqE6tVzY3RdtFI6HwSETBmRaa5JlYvZkrX6BvTUDzSyofdZkbEohO5PAyNytaTxuFgGU0XyPpqBcpLKZUMRYreiwvgA7x0kF2rp-ddY/s1600/113057-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahsDfz67I-vRpbEAktw0vfUc7ZFkI4piSynRHpqE6tVzY3RdtFI6HwSETBmRaa5JlYvZkrX6BvTUDzSyofdZkbEohO5PAyNytaTxuFgGU0XyPpqBcpLKZUMRYreiwvgA7x0kF2rp-ddY/s1600/113057-XL.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best family photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFJm8acCZfY9EMKaTYpwftUF9vyU9HIcOLyH6Tp-Y25mw1v_u7O2Ktz8DwimPTdirkEj2h_mOSDzKQacaA5_A-d8iRt2COVKarIdvcdOGl7Q32EfBa6OsuwJQZNVZweaq4gs-yKDrGSI/s1600/D2D+auction+2015+photo+booth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFJm8acCZfY9EMKaTYpwftUF9vyU9HIcOLyH6Tp-Y25mw1v_u7O2Ktz8DwimPTdirkEj2h_mOSDzKQacaA5_A-d8iRt2COVKarIdvcdOGl7Q32EfBa6OsuwJQZNVZweaq4gs-yKDrGSI/s1600/D2D+auction+2015+photo+booth.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kissy Kissy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV0hXjh0WA-0xtk-KrP4nO_ohKqhdMQ2a0X8dgGYOWzfqAAun6B8Jqg3H_klS41Q4VW-QyV6_fKTtO-71IPH6n3SMQx4wbgE2RNfoIguE02XemfhX-uu3H6R4oXpgDqwSK9epA7R9Bxk/s1600/113079-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV0hXjh0WA-0xtk-KrP4nO_ohKqhdMQ2a0X8dgGYOWzfqAAun6B8Jqg3H_klS41Q4VW-QyV6_fKTtO-71IPH6n3SMQx4wbgE2RNfoIguE02XemfhX-uu3H6R4oXpgDqwSK9epA7R9Bxk/s1600/113079-XL.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The camera is riiight HERE....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqGBiHLDd2WULLO4naFC5fd5XK6dyD3AmYuRt0SQNj33GifyFWb5qIC8iZbjenqfzqLsnToZDuq2O8vn42k-4R8NDBqzjcPC2gRueHlcEU0vb1nYc9-7dhob9S82nVhJlqNEMJY1_zrs/s1600/113096-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqGBiHLDd2WULLO4naFC5fd5XK6dyD3AmYuRt0SQNj33GifyFWb5qIC8iZbjenqfzqLsnToZDuq2O8vn42k-4R8NDBqzjcPC2gRueHlcEU0vb1nYc9-7dhob9S82nVhJlqNEMJY1_zrs/s1600/113096-XL.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most fun in a photo booth goes to these two...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wrwMqXQapnl8nM8EGBIvhkhJgXA10fFFw6sq5GUssYyDCUNxoWaA7tcdA1PopXKJw2-qZ1Yq1GxMkYd_cdgF7B3GK9v5g5Ydqrx3LGGiFdfxqKAl3Y_TPNO_HVKMpnllZhk-CcsVlBw/s1600/113106-XL-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wrwMqXQapnl8nM8EGBIvhkhJgXA10fFFw6sq5GUssYyDCUNxoWaA7tcdA1PopXKJw2-qZ1Yq1GxMkYd_cdgF7B3GK9v5g5Ydqrx3LGGiFdfxqKAl3Y_TPNO_HVKMpnllZhk-CcsVlBw/s1600/113106-XL-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very special people in this one! Two of Dylan's NICU drs!<br />
And a special boy ;)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXXUuP1S-7wZf5jKw7IeR3XI4hHITeFlO1JZ343SwKsRx0zjvqBYrOYSlF7IXISt1wQNerdaFlueLLqKELoP33zz0slL7_Ko3siUW7XOf8BMjKxbhNLc2mls-DncaXL5nUxb9QUGWbOM/s1600/113110-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXXUuP1S-7wZf5jKw7IeR3XI4hHITeFlO1JZ343SwKsRx0zjvqBYrOYSlF7IXISt1wQNerdaFlueLLqKELoP33zz0slL7_Ko3siUW7XOf8BMjKxbhNLc2mls-DncaXL5nUxb9QUGWbOM/s1600/113110-XL.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutest squeeze!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5_M1zFFckDE-zlelbBwnSwNTkMikgZpYjJN3ocNeksaFtl7zj1RaTcXfpAdXiIzH_IRwvuEPGashpZdqmvnARuqqd8pFsBPhpCdEM5vCVAkbXECUbAo-I3aQ0Lii2DhTgxiPqfpeK5A/s1600/113115-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5_M1zFFckDE-zlelbBwnSwNTkMikgZpYjJN3ocNeksaFtl7zj1RaTcXfpAdXiIzH_IRwvuEPGashpZdqmvnARuqqd8pFsBPhpCdEM5vCVAkbXECUbAo-I3aQ0Lii2DhTgxiPqfpeK5A/s1600/113115-XL.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fun with props! I love the little guy peeking up with the Cheers! sign</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-MqJaI_MlC-FM3ZBBehOKlaQfv13HcqUz2reZtIa36Zz-xRTsS1EsStLz9YH9NaK30P60b-rAA5BW0X6r2CKQskrlvwscs0yTeoJo9yhm7KJFnTI28lMXh52STpDxr_7R4-WoB0Gzew/s1600/113175-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-MqJaI_MlC-FM3ZBBehOKlaQfv13HcqUz2reZtIa36Zz-xRTsS1EsStLz9YH9NaK30P60b-rAA5BW0X6r2CKQskrlvwscs0yTeoJo9yhm7KJFnTI28lMXh52STpDxr_7R4-WoB0Gzew/s1600/113175-XL.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">these two took quite the series of pictures, lol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBz8qGMApJQuB8ZX8loTp0Vhf87aJS-uZgHrDkGhtaacp9HFjJODMYyWmTJRvCdwbvzkAA3ZVmOk3Pslb0jqdM8JkECraXQiDj_3rDyT3XMvV8kS-X4zDubkdbRspLd8OpDHvd4bqU9c/s1600/113179-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBz8qGMApJQuB8ZX8loTp0Vhf87aJS-uZgHrDkGhtaacp9HFjJODMYyWmTJRvCdwbvzkAA3ZVmOk3Pslb0jqdM8JkECraXQiDj_3rDyT3XMvV8kS-X4zDubkdbRspLd8OpDHvd4bqU9c/s1600/113179-XL.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AAAAAHHHHHH!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
<b>and Drum roll please...</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Thanks, Will!!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I feel the same way, Tina!!</b></td></tr>
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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!!<br />
<br />
Go here to sign up:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;"> </span><a href="http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #d874ae; cursor: pointer; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13px; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">http://www.marchforbabies.org/jen102279</a><br />
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<br />Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-35142395343307283362015-01-30T06:57:00.000-08:002015-01-30T06:57:59.238-08:00Happy 2nd Birthday Noah!!Our Noah is two today!! I'm sure Big brother Dylan is excited that Noah is getting bigger, and probably more fun to play with ;)<br />
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I look to the other brother sets that we have the pleasure of watching grow up, and always think about how you two would be. I have no doubt that you are the best of friends up in Heaven, but I'd also guess that you cause your fair shares of mischief.<br />
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Today daddy and I decided to try something different. Since your birthday is in the middle of winter, balloons do not fair so well here in Wisconsin (as we tried any way last year). So this year we bought a chinese lantern.<br />
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We had our doubts...<br />
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This is made of a VERY thin paper that already had small tears (scotch tape for the win!) and we just weren't sure what to expect.<br />
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We went down to the lakefront to avoid all the houses and trees around, didn't want to set anyone or thing on fire!<br />
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And we made the trek down the ice covered stairs.<br />
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Then we tried to light it...<br />
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Daddy was getting more and more worried that I was going to get upset that he couldn't get the lighter to stay lit long enough, I could see the worry on his face. (If you know me, I am not patient and I want things to work esp for special occasions.)<br />
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I was doing pretty good, but asked to take over.<br />
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I said a quick prayer, and tried at least 5-6 more times until I got that flame to burn long enough to light the wick of the lantern. But I GOT IT!<br />
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Happy Birthday sweet Noah. Mommy and daddy still miss you like crazy. I know you don't want us to cry, but you have to understand it still hurts that you aren't here. It still hurts to see the other babies continuing to grow, healthy and happy, when you aren't here.<br />
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I promise to be happy today. Today you blessed us with your birth, and the miracle that you stayed with us for two hours. Watch over daddy today too sweetheart. He's driving up for a fun weekend with his cousins. I know it will be hard for him today, so give him a squeeze now and then. We had a quick cupcake for you this morning before we left to start the day. Hope all your wishes come true.<br />
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I love you to the moon and back, Noah!<br />
Forever and always, our baby you will be. <3<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It got stuck for a few moments...<br />but the wind quickly picked up and <br />took the lantern with</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally wearing my diffuser necklace, but with an addition. <br />Both from a dear friend <3</td></tr>
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Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-87304286071995223162015-01-26T08:09:00.001-08:002015-01-26T08:09:46.632-08:00Help us go out with a BANG!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you have planned on going to our auction in the past, and said to yourself that you'll just go the next year, this may be your last chance.<br />
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We have been asked by the March of Dimes to take on bigger roles. We will continue to walk every year, but our energy will be used in other ways besides our big fundraising efforts. With that said, we do believe this will be our last KickOff Party and Silent Auction.<br />
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So the time to come is now :) Help us go out with a BANG and hot our goal to raise $100,000 for the March of Dimes mission.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj6SAn58Vfs3tai1BrqY-eZmBn-CX6fs6XPG-MAML9NoVK7BoHDwhVXPQKlVfqYYsxF0WVebKR4XB_38dG06bJ-fbGFg1OcZXB9u8-KxgpLxMzgyDkAQl9b8UXqRSenBJVMNQ84YgIVs/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj6SAn58Vfs3tai1BrqY-eZmBn-CX6fs6XPG-MAML9NoVK7BoHDwhVXPQKlVfqYYsxF0WVebKR4XB_38dG06bJ-fbGFg1OcZXB9u8-KxgpLxMzgyDkAQl9b8UXqRSenBJVMNQ84YgIVs/s1600/Slide1.jpg" height="640" width="474" /></a></div>
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Invite your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers! The more the merrier! We'd love to have a HUGE turn out and enjoy the event as much as possible.<br />
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Here's a sneak at some of our auction items this year:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjip14zWinaKaNr2fU-sjBOSTn2m0543TDQ9RXpqcKODhIp6Es-s97akn54kj_Fv_FLo1cYcBSCEYAyPXaNqPeqpoYYDXJqkZAum8xiVqg3oav2y5yFJoVyo6lxrkjNtbO927FJ7X12AP4/s1600/cd8feab5f9141e0e0aeb790c0028a5ef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjip14zWinaKaNr2fU-sjBOSTn2m0543TDQ9RXpqcKODhIp6Es-s97akn54kj_Fv_FLo1cYcBSCEYAyPXaNqPeqpoYYDXJqkZAum8xiVqg3oav2y5yFJoVyo6lxrkjNtbO927FJ7X12AP4/s1600/cd8feab5f9141e0e0aeb790c0028a5ef.jpg" height="130" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gourmet Cupcakes! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawm5pAQO5R-WQUjokPwECiC6r2yj1hs0_l-NF8FNqkDY7KA3reDkwimwhvnc_1EdfGr8YBFioVwwOI_1t0gV45_lYvPXPYEIShOUkBP9BzvjX9rOSBI8qifmwsvZCMjC7DcaUlERaGA0/s1600/imgres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawm5pAQO5R-WQUjokPwECiC6r2yj1hs0_l-NF8FNqkDY7KA3reDkwimwhvnc_1EdfGr8YBFioVwwOI_1t0gV45_lYvPXPYEIShOUkBP9BzvjX9rOSBI8qifmwsvZCMjC7DcaUlERaGA0/s1600/imgres.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autographed Football!</td></tr>
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<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9F58R0zcjux2nAgdYBipsUFoIKobIBhGR0s9D99AFrshlOwHNNNDeW5JG7_wuKcSr9VwkS5DaA0mwuvHqU9JN1XhGpYjSAfzwvzPUUJvgkb6P9h9KYNYA64Lh9WQtJu6_ABIEx77KeY/s1600/10407014_10152968340026041_3970642959707429361_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9F58R0zcjux2nAgdYBipsUFoIKobIBhGR0s9D99AFrshlOwHNNNDeW5JG7_wuKcSr9VwkS5DaA0mwuvHqU9JN1XhGpYjSAfzwvzPUUJvgkb6P9h9KYNYA64Lh9WQtJu6_ABIEx77KeY/s1600/10407014_10152968340026041_3970642959707429361_n.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spice Collection from Penzeys</td></tr>
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<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJkW1R1UprBXU-zjczBd5_3EF-JN2rFqif0HtUeCs_QOvgto2IzwofYKUauO7hMQ7fL_L7jBkN6b95bgyDM1l6d-ESRP_mP0garxZKKwpT-I0r6qLiPvVsJlxmCLQlI8wZbesqwYGGA0/s1600/imgres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJkW1R1UprBXU-zjczBd5_3EF-JN2rFqif0HtUeCs_QOvgto2IzwofYKUauO7hMQ7fL_L7jBkN6b95bgyDM1l6d-ESRP_mP0garxZKKwpT-I0r6qLiPvVsJlxmCLQlI8wZbesqwYGGA0/s1600/imgres.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine Goodie Basket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaldxCIm2YiVV6-xZInzeV8hVGJxcBrTTvotOHv71jsTBLCwGEKcfYB94tPDcOAr72Z4BudGplyUxVstQG_hfzQAlI93an6CZS0zQz8Jj0VrDOmU0jtZAt79tQrm-S5s6oB5g6qDEQdU/s1600/Milwaukee_Bucks.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaldxCIm2YiVV6-xZInzeV8hVGJxcBrTTvotOHv71jsTBLCwGEKcfYB94tPDcOAr72Z4BudGplyUxVstQG_hfzQAlI93an6CZS0zQz8Jj0VrDOmU0jtZAt79tQrm-S5s6oB5g6qDEQdU/s1600/Milwaukee_Bucks.svg.png" height="320" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck's Tickets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br />And SO MUCH MORE!<div>
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So please come and help us go out with a bang! Share the event to anyone that will listen! And please walk with us in April!!<br /><br /><br /></div>
Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-49035212519757686352015-01-08T06:32:00.005-08:002015-01-08T06:33:59.874-08:00Devoted to Dylan's 3rd Annual Silent Auction!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's a month away!!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeasIbJolgYarChYDRkK3r_tpV1Kdnr0OC9V0CQEHsoXWyrcRcR_2q8nrCjC5NHhlnwYBm2e8HJpg5gwULo7pASDmLgX6wtOXxxtL4yDVciPtgoTY1L6avkjARf0cuz3KF8OdJAxYt74/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeasIbJolgYarChYDRkK3r_tpV1Kdnr0OC9V0CQEHsoXWyrcRcR_2q8nrCjC5NHhlnwYBm2e8HJpg5gwULo7pASDmLgX6wtOXxxtL4yDVciPtgoTY1L6avkjARf0cuz3KF8OdJAxYt74/s1600/Slide1.jpg" height="640" width="473" /></a></div>
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We are <span style="font-size: large;">so</span> close to hitting $100,000 for the March of Dimes, that we are hoping this event will be our biggest yet! Please come! Please bring family and friends with you!!<br />
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Do you like cupcakes?!?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFH3f9fKq27CoxHbnFidWaq8FmkcsrDeHh_IhCnK6Zh-iBmh5mxeyGgVGBsICNDiuUdgQYby37HP2rbmqmmILl1QoK5qVpZNe91U4D_WvenuYmBSeZL7zgqYnkZdTsNuXunqXLV4YT1E/s1600/cd8feab5f9141e0e0aeb790c0028a5ef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFH3f9fKq27CoxHbnFidWaq8FmkcsrDeHh_IhCnK6Zh-iBmh5mxeyGgVGBsICNDiuUdgQYby37HP2rbmqmmILl1QoK5qVpZNe91U4D_WvenuYmBSeZL7zgqYnkZdTsNuXunqXLV4YT1E/s1600/cd8feab5f9141e0e0aeb790c0028a5ef.jpg" height="162" width="400" /></a></div>
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Grace & Shelly's donated 2 certificates for a dozen cupcakes!! You pick!</div>
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And if you'd rather get the cupcakes right away, there will be delicious Baked goods there to bid on and take home to feast on!</div>
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Are you a crafter?!?</div>
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Stampin' Up donated a HUGE prize to be won! (May or may not include any of the above-I'm not sure the specifics of what they are sending, but it is valued at over $200!)</div>
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Do you like the Green & Gold?!?!? (Umm who doesn't????)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3qlPc53b4tenOYb4j2J85lH_XXo_ZIBeNezGVkWKH5nYRlrMfEBZ8CizCJNzJv62Qum0MMUPRNxy2PHXO2doxIsOzdvtmAZIAYXOsBXp6JALYwM-YHK8FjzWzkrf-JR7VbPmaA44T_o/s1600/imgres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3qlPc53b4tenOYb4j2J85lH_XXo_ZIBeNezGVkWKH5nYRlrMfEBZ8CizCJNzJv62Qum0MMUPRNxy2PHXO2doxIsOzdvtmAZIAYXOsBXp6JALYwM-YHK8FjzWzkrf-JR7VbPmaA44T_o/s1600/imgres.jpg" height="299" width="400" /></a></div>
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How about an autographed football signed by the team at the beginning of the season???<br />
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And LOTS, LOTS more!!!Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-85247286865096323272014-12-17T10:27:00.003-08:002014-12-17T10:27:51.593-08:00Dear Devoted 2 Jen & Patrick friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aLYef1xFlm6U_3UsQuVy_F4GPwkC2t2Dc1RW6vftq-q8NQVuz0dKKqe5TjTtvE7G-_ErgUSRQwGkP8lPx9HhTZJRTT2WYR-1R8GorwJkfP4uttGAEW0aW26hEltJGIwYRQpfLHTqOhY/s1600/248731_273026779490176_1412520676_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aLYef1xFlm6U_3UsQuVy_F4GPwkC2t2Dc1RW6vftq-q8NQVuz0dKKqe5TjTtvE7G-_ErgUSRQwGkP8lPx9HhTZJRTT2WYR-1R8GorwJkfP4uttGAEW0aW26hEltJGIwYRQpfLHTqOhY/s1600/248731_273026779490176_1412520676_n.jpg" height="150" width="320" /></a></div>
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As many of you know, a group of special friends put together a fundraising event/page to help Patrick and I get some answers and hopefully help us have a rainbow baby.<br />
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(<i>rainbow baby meaning</i>: a baby that comes after loss and pain, with the rainbow being the beauty after a storm)<br />
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With the funds that were raised and with an amazing genetic team battling our insurance company, we were able to get the genetic sequencing done. If you recall, Dylan and Noah both had a unknown genetic anomaly. The only way to potentially find this needle in a haystack, was to have genetic sequencing done. <br />
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I use a library analogy that seems to help people understand how difficult finding this "defect" was. Think of a massive downtown or University library. Think of all the floors, the rows, and stacks after stacks of books. Now I tell you to find the missing word. I don't tell you the floor, the row, or the stack. I don't tell you the book or the page. But I expect you to find it.<br />
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Now do you see how crazy difficult that task was?<br />
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I can't tell you how many people asked us, </div>
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"can't you test for whatever it is? There should be a test!"</div>
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Right, there should! But how do we expect doctors and modern medicine to know what an unknown is?! There ARE tests for KNOWN defects, and mutations. But that took time, money and someone having that defect.<br />
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So we knew there was a good chance that they still would not be able to pinpoint the exact problem. We sent out all the DNA samples they requested and then we waited...<br />
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and waited...<br />
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AND WAITED...<br />
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until we got the call to come in.<br />
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Now she called me and said we have the results, when can you guys come in? Those that know me well, know I am EXTREMELY IMpatient. I called Patrick and said, "ok, they have the results what time can you get here?" LOL. He wanted to wait.<br />
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WHAT?!?! NO! We already waited months and months and we KNOW they HAVE the results! This isn't a "what is a couple of more days gonna do" type of situation here!<br />
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Patrick (thankfully) decided not to battle me on this (love you hon!) and came to meet me later that day.<br />
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THEY FOUND IT !!!!!!<br />
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So what next?<br />
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Then we met with 2 different IVF clinics to discuss what our options were. One clinic was SO AWFUL at communicating they made the decision extremely easy. <br />
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The clinic needed to talk to IVF genetic lab to see whether or not they would be able to create a probe to test for the defect. So then we waited again, which another possible road block.<br />
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We found out a day or so after Dylan's birthday, that the lab would in fact be able to create a probe and be able to pre-test any embryos that were made for the defect the boys had.<br />
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So next up, IVF meds and pokes...and pokes...<br />
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Poking yourself in the stomach repeatedly with needles, isn't that easy lol. I was able to do it though, because I knew what the outcome could be and that helped motivate me.<br />
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We went through the pokes, and the egg retrieval. They were able to get a handful of mature eggs that they fertilized and then again waiting. We needed the embryos to get to day 5 and still look great in order for them to be biopsied and tested.<br />
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3 made it to day 5.<br />
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They were biopsied and then frozen and then...you guessed it... we WAITED.<br />
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They found out that 2 had the defect, and the one had another issue that made him/her not viable.<br />
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I cannot put into words how gut wrenching, earth shattering that news was. It's just a constant soccer punch over and over, and at some point you feel like there's no way this could honestly be happening to us. Not after everything else.<br />
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WHY?????<br />
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I can't tell you why.<br />
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I can't even tell you the next step. Speaking for myself, I feel like giving up. How can I not? I'm sorry if that makes you disappointed or angry with/at me. But at some point you need to call UNCLE! Enough is enough!<br />
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Are we there? I don't know. <br />
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We know there are other options, we don't need to have them listed to us. We know we can try again, we don't need to be reminded. <br />
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We need to take time for us right now, and heal from this blow. Healing takes time. I am picking my marriage and my husband right now. I will not rush or force him to do something he isn't ready for, and he isn'y doing it to me. To be honest, I'm not sure <b>I</b> can handle anything else. Just being near or seeing anyone pregnant is like pouring gallons of salt into an open wound.<br />
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But I wanted to say a BIG thank you to all of you for helping us try. Thank you for giving us the support and the opportunity to try and have a biological baby. I have wanted to give you all an update sooner, but I just couldn't bring myself to type it all out.<br />
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And even though the outcome isn't what we all hoped for Patrick & I, you have all helped advance medicine and helped future parents have healthy babies without this mutation. So THANK YOU <3<br />
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<br />Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-56184897126248029102014-12-09T06:20:00.003-08:002014-12-09T06:20:30.377-08:00I'm still here<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes you just need to take some time off and deal with some things. </div>
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But I'm still here. </div>
Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-48745571156297468082014-10-17T06:10:00.004-07:002014-10-17T06:34:43.353-07:003 years ago today...I woke up this morning, knowing what today was. It's not an ordinary day for us. My phone was blinking and I have the habit of having to look...even though I figured it was so-and-so added a new picture, or updated a status (on facebook, for you non-fb'ers).<br />
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I was wrong.<br />
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There sometimes comes a time in a friendship, where they really become part of your family. They hurt when you hurt, cry when you cry, and never judge you in your weakest moments.<br />
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One of those friends made this picture and posted it on my facebook wall, so that when I woke up, I would see it and know that it wasn't just me knowing what today was...<br />
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Today is a hard day, but it is also filled with the wonderful memories of taking Dylan home. And the peaceful thoughts of knowing, he would not feel anymore pain or suffering but only the warmth of our arms and the love surrounding him.<br />
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Many tell me they are inspired by me and my strength, although I don't feel strong. Many say, they wouldn't have been able to go through the pain and heartache we have and continue to go through. <br />
I would have said the same thing. <br />
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But you have to know that your children would not want that for you. They would not want you in bed all day, crying and suffering. They would want you to go on living.<br />
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So that's what we do.<br />
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But we had to take it a step further.<br />
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As many of you know we have created a March of Dimes team in the loving memory and honor of our three children in Heaven, Devoted to Dylan. We started our team in 2012, and have walked the last 3 years. We have people walking all over the country (as you can join our team, and walk in your hometown!) wearing Dylan's (and now Taylor and Noah's names) proudly. Reminding Patrick and I that we will never be alone, and that our children will never be forgotten.<br />
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Over the last 3 years, we have been recognized as one of the top teams in our city, state, and even in the entire country. In our 3 years, we have raised $89,000 for other families and babies to have a healthy start. This year, our goal is to raise $11,000 as that will bump us up to raising $100,000 in honor of our children. Can you think of a greater gift?<br />
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If you have walked with us before, please walk again.<br />
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If you have thought about it, but didn't feel strong enough, please try again this year.<br />
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Please tell people about Dylan, and our team to help raise awareness of the March of Dimes and to help families become more educated on safe pregnancies and to help give all babies a healthy start in life. <br />
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Please visit our team page <a href="http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/devoted2dylan">here</a>, and sign up to walk with us or to donate to the cause. All donations are tax deductible, so print and save your receipt! Please help us reach our goal of $100,000 for babies this year and be apart of the team that did it!<br /><br />We are also trying desperately to find a location for our big Kick-off Party Silent Auction. If you know any restaurants, or managers that would be willing to have us, please let us know!! We are also looking for auction item donations!<br />
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Please also share our blog! Post to Facebook/Twitter, tell you friends and family. Please help spread the story of the little boy who changed our lives forever, and who's light continues to get brighter with every passing day.Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-66073999905283463232014-10-03T10:41:00.001-07:002014-10-03T10:43:57.352-07:00Changing the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />As most of you know, from reading this blog, after Dylan was born he stayed at Children's Hospital's NICU. I was not able to see him right away since I had to have a c-section and had to recover, and he was not stable enough to leave the NICU.<br />
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As you can imagine, there was a whirlwind of people in and out. Checking in on me, checking in on Dylan. Poor Patrick had to run back and forth to update me on what was happening with Dylan, as I was still in recovery.<br />
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Right after Dylan was born, a doctor went to talk to Patrick about Dylan's lungs. They hadn't fully matured and he needed help breathing. He got some surfactant (Thanks to all the research the March of Dimes does!) to help get his lungs stronger. There was another doctor, a resident, there as well (Patrick remembers she was blonde lol). However, Dylan was born in the midst of a doctor switch. The attending doctors switch every 2 weeks and the residents every 4 and we are VERY thankful that they did.<br />
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Patrick remembers meeting *Sally (name changed for privacy), but he was still exhausted from the whole experience so the details are a tad foggy. I should ask Sally what she remembers!<br />
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We didn't love the attending. He was very cold, and I think both Patrick and I felt like just another cow in the herd...<br />
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However, Sally on the other hand, was amazing. We could both tell right away that she took to Dylan right away and never made us feel rushed or that we were less important than any other family she was taking care of. I for sure felt safe with her. I trusted her right away with my baby boy, and to any mother out there reading this, you know how difficult that is.<br />
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Because I have a strong science, and somewhat strong medical background, I was probably one of the most annoying NICU parents there. I made sure to get to the hospital early enough in the morning to hear the attendings round on Dylan, and as you can imagine, I always had a list of questions...Why are you giving A, B, or C? What caused his HR to dip down? etc... They learned quickly that I knew the terminology and had ZERO problem voicing any question or concern. What I appreciated was they started making sure I was okay with the plan, and the treatment course. Checking to see if I had any questions before moving forward. Sally always came back after rounds to make sure we had a good understanding of what was going on, and watched over Dylan when we were home.<br />
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For those 4 weeks, we felt like Dylan was in the best possible hands possible all because of Sally. We started up with a new attending 2 weeks in, and had to start all over with a new person learning about the in's and out's of treating our boy. But we took comfort in knowing Sally knew all that and would speak up when necessary. When her 4 weeks were up, we knew there would be HUGE shoes to fill and we were dreading the switch. She wrote us a sweet card (that I still have!) and gave Dylan an adorable football onesie (even though she isn't rooting for the same NFL team--GO PACK!) on her last night with Dylan. We went home worrying about who would be watching over Dylan now.<br />
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Sally's next rotation was Palliative care. The Palliative team at our local Children's hospital is the absolute best. They are the most caring and compassionate people in the world, and not everyone is capable of performing this job. There are special places in Heaven for these people. Even though Sally was no longer Dylan's NICU resident, we were being taken care of the Palliative team, and Sally came by every single day to check in on Dylan and me. <br />
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There was another doctor there that would take care of Dylan on the overnights and on some weekends, and we immediately liked this guy. There was no way not to like him. Just a genuine, caring person, who shined from the inside out. *James (name also changed for privacy) was such a character. He made us laugh or smile when we needed it, and he was caring and serious when we needed that.<br />
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Both Sally and James are in the right profession. Sure smart people can go and become doctors...but you need that compassion chip and bedside manner that not all of them have. And when you have a sick baby/child, you REALLY notice that missing chip. These two not only have the chip, but it oozes out of their pores! :)<br />
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We became close with these two doctors very quickly and bonded over loving Dylan, football, and food! We learned later on that these two were actually dating!! And what a PERFECT match!!<br />
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We were honored to be invited to their wedding, and are honored to be their friends. They were there the day Noah was born as well, they wanted to meet Dylan's baby brother <3<br />
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Not too long ago, they became a family of 4 (no not twins, but because they also got a cute puppy!).<br />
Sally sent me this email to tell me:<br />
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I'm sure I don't have to tell you that I was sobbing. I am again actually, re-reading it for the 100th time. I know I have said it before, but knowing that the child you lost lives on in the hearts of many, is the greatest gift of all. <br />
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Although our little boy was only here on earth for a short time, his work and love continues to shine through others. I see it everyday. October is another hard month for me, as it's when we said goodbye. But I hold on to the promise that it is goodbye for now. <br />
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It's amazing to think of the people that have come into of lives because of Dylan. We would have never met Sally and James, and other wonderful friends that share the pain of losing a child. We are so blessed to have them in our lives.<br />
<br />Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-30360782354511495092014-08-14T06:37:00.001-07:002014-08-14T07:52:54.139-07:00Happy 3rd Birthday, My Sweet Angel!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh my sweet boy, Happy Birthday! </div>
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I hope you have a wonderful birthday up in Heaven today! I know your great grandparents, and great uncles are spoiling you without any doubt in my mind.</div>
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I'm trying not to be sad today, because I know you wouldn't want that. But I miss you. The longing to have you here with me and daddy has never gone away, nor will it ever. I still get angry with God that you are gone, even though I know it's not His fault. But I know He can handle my anger and still love and forgive me.</div>
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We have our 3 balloons ready to send up to you, I found an Elmo one! Thought you might like that one. Mommy and Daddy are of course going out for your favorite meal tonight, pizza with extra sauce. For dessert we found an Oreo birthday cake! I think since both mommy and daddy love oreos, you would have loved them too!</div>
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So many things show me how you continue to live on in so many people's hearts. </div>
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You probably remember me talking about the Bumpies (aka September Sweet Peas) before, </div>
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if not go <a href="http://devoted2dylan.blogspot.com/2013/01/very-humbled.html">here</a>.</div>
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Most of the ladies have been very supportive of all of our efforts to the March of Dimes by raising money on their own, or by simply joining our team and walking in their own hometowns. I know you see the sea of green and I hope you realize just what an impact you have made on so many families. </div>
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And you will continue to live on in the hearts of many sweetie, just look at the picture below of your fellow peas :) I know they all know of you, and wear your name proudly <3 </div>
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You received a special delivery yesterday, a balloon bouquet was delivered for a Dylan McGraw <3 from some very special friends. We will send those up to you as well so be on the look out for </div>
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A LOT of balloons baby :) </div>
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You are so loved.</div>
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I love you so much, I wish I could<span style="font-family: inherit;"> have just one second to hug and kiss you and breathe you in </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">just one more tim</span>e. </div>
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Happy Birthday my sweet boy!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/john/15-13.html" style="text-decoration: none;">John 15:13</a> <span style="font-size: 14px;">Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><strong style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Hebrews-11-1/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" title="Hebrews 11:1">Hebrews 11:1</a></strong><span style="color: black;"> - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Update: Received an email this morning that was very touching. Here's a little snippet:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">"<span style="line-height: 15.359999656677246px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 years ago you received a very special gift one you have shared with all of us and our world is brighter because of that so I want to Thank You for continuing to let his legacy & life have the impact it does on us all."</span></span></div>
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Makes my heart full :)</div>
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Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-89747381578274420512014-08-07T10:10:00.001-07:002014-08-07T10:10:18.012-07:00In one weekIn one week, Dylan would be turing 3. I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that he's gone, and the pain has never gone away.<div>
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This was shared recently in one of my groups, I read it today. </div>
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Taken from jsonline.com</div>
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<h1 class="headline entry-title" style="color: #002269; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
The heartbreak of infant loss</h1>
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By <span class="author vcard" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Laura Schubert</span></div>
<div class="updated" style="float: right; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="2011-10-07T11:52:00Z">
<span class="timestamp" style="color: #777777; font-family: georgia; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Oct. 6, 2011</span></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Go to: </strong><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/emptycradles" style="color: #002269; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Section</strong></a><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> | </strong><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/emptycradles.html" style="color: #002269; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Blog</strong></a></div>
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Did you know that October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month? I'll bet not. Despite the infant mortality crisis that's been at the forefront of Milwaukee's public health news for months, the only people who have more than a cursory comprehension of what it means to lose a baby are those who've lived it.</div>
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Infant loss is nature's cruelest practical joke. It's investing all of the required time and effort into pregnancy, only to be robbed of the result. It's cradling a body that grew within your own and trying to reconcile the cold, lifeless form in your arms with your memory of the baby who turned double flips in your womb.</div>
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It's worrying that you'll forget what your child looked like and snapping an album's worth of photos that no one will ever ask to see. It's sobbing so hard you can't breathe and wondering if it's possible to cry yourself to death.</div>
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Infant loss is handing off a Moses basket to the nurse who's drawn the unfortunate duty of delivering your pride and joy to the morgue and walking out of a hospital with empty arms.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">
It's boxing up brand new baby clothes and buying a 24-inch casket. It's sifting through sympathy cards, willing your foolish body to stop lactating, clutching your baby's blanket to your chest in hopes of soothing the piercing ache in your heart.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">
It's resisting the urge to smack the clueless individuals who compare your situation to the death of their dog or who tell you you'll have another baby, as if children are somehow replaceable.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">
Infant loss is explaining to your 7-year-old that sometimes babies die and being stumped into silence when she asks you why. It's watching other families live out your happy ending and fighting a fresh round of grief with every milestone you miss.</div>
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It's being shut out of play groups for perpetuity. It's skipping social events with expectant and newly minted mothers because, as a walking worst-case scenario, you don't want to put a damper on the party.</div>
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It's listening to other women gripe about motherhood and realizing that you no longer relate to their petty parental complaints because, frankly, when you've buried a baby, a sleepless night with a vomiting toddler sounds something like a gift.</div>
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Infant loss is pruning from your life the friends and relatives who ignore or minimize your loss. It's recognizing that, while they may not mean to be hurtful, the fact that they don't know any better doesn't make their utter lack of empathy one whit easier to bear.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">
My baby girl would have been 5 years old this month. I don't know what she'd look like, what her favorite food would be. I've never had the privilege of tucking her into bed, taking her to the zoo or kissing her boo-boos. I will never watch her graduate or walk down the aisle.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">
Infant loss is more than an empty cradle. It's a life sentence.</div>
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Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-14537911942480086402014-07-24T09:10:00.002-07:002015-07-10T14:13:50.045-07:00My oil of the week...Peace & Calming!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So as many of you know, we got a new kitten this past weekend. Here's our girl Josie in case you haven't seen her yet:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvfVDTYAI5iOVsPbnzTN9_EV50ZqyDSHwzSEvoqYMjGS7pRlYyZRs8R8xA1djOHCIcGsVekA-dJ4n-86_1_81LFHMhv98TGDVABEQR1KrbzaJ5VUAd6yWkM_zUYuJGIuTjRJsqB_ZVEI/s1600/20140719_132826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvfVDTYAI5iOVsPbnzTN9_EV50ZqyDSHwzSEvoqYMjGS7pRlYyZRs8R8xA1djOHCIcGsVekA-dJ4n-86_1_81LFHMhv98TGDVABEQR1KrbzaJ5VUAd6yWkM_zUYuJGIuTjRJsqB_ZVEI/s1600/20140719_132826.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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To not upset our other pets (Tigger - a 16 year old cat, and Vedder- a 9 1/2 year old Chocolate lab) we have been keeping them separate...which means no sleep for us. We are taking turns sleeping with Josie in our room vs on the couch with the boys. Neither is better than the other. She thinks your body is a playground all hours of the night and knocks things over at 5am. The couch is not super comfy, but the boys are quiet.<br />
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So, I turned to my oils. I diluted my peace & calming and rubbed some on the bottom of my feet at bedtime, just to see if it would help. I slept like a ROCK. Josie could've done somersaults at my head and I don't think I would have noticed!<br />
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I need to try this oil in other aspects yet. Maybe I could diffuse it when we introduce the 3 pets to each other...I'll have to look into that!Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3380597444125517750.post-5237287863707529172014-07-18T06:47:00.001-07:002014-07-18T06:47:56.640-07:00Artsy fartsy FridayWe have lots of stuff on our walls in our house. We have pictures of Dylan and Noah is almost every room, and some wedding pictures. And then there's my husband's Pearl Jam posters...in fairness, they are framed nicely so it does look like art.<br />
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So in pursuing the good ol'internet I stumbled upon this artist, Egidijus Baranauskas and his watercolors.<br />
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This one in particular caught my eye! We have bird feeders all around, and have taken an interest in all the birds visiting :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRHLxxOUYjFbvF3Zx7-7JW08A0R8zwQlRfvbi1r8Gd2sxWuXhCOEcjt45QxSGWX5Fo3jLakXNs_mqRrGE4K5gGwOiMoaPV-9L1pzwlW8qjnXM71xtYH_GTv1RK24DVFeS_Wwee6JLW1g/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-07-18+at+8.41.57+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRHLxxOUYjFbvF3Zx7-7JW08A0R8zwQlRfvbi1r8Gd2sxWuXhCOEcjt45QxSGWX5Fo3jLakXNs_mqRrGE4K5gGwOiMoaPV-9L1pzwlW8qjnXM71xtYH_GTv1RK24DVFeS_Wwee6JLW1g/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-07-18+at+8.41.57+AM.png" height="306" width="320" /></a></div>
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I just LOVE the colors!<br />
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Do you have art having up in your house/apartment? Are they original pieces? Prints? Photographs?<br />
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<br />Dylan's momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713138321978353880noreply@blogger.com0