What? It’s totally a real holiday.
There is a lot going on in the world right now. The Southeast is starting to pick up the scraps left behind by vicious tornadoes and storms, women are swooning and snarking over the royal wedding.
My thoughts and prayers are with the storm victims and my eyes are giving sideways glances at wedding coverage, but my main focus is on an endeavor I embarked upon the first week of this year.
I sat at my trio’s bedsides, watching their monitors and listening to the sounds of the NICU around us. The sink where NICU visitors wash their hands upon entering the unit has a March of Dimes poster next to it. I’d read through it several times and always said a quick thank-you prayer for all MoD has done for babies like mine.
Next to the sink is also a coin commemorating the NICU’s participation in last year’s March for Babies.
After fighting with the nobody-likes-me-or-my-ideas that’s haunted me since middle school (ew), I got over myself and asked three of my closest friends if they’d be interested in walking with us. April 30 seemed like forever away, and I had no clue what our status would be then. Now. I was afraid of starting something we couldn’t finish, that something would get in the way and keep us home, unable to join in the fun.
My friends were more than enthusiastic. After some discussion over semantics, they started building our multi-city team. E-mails, phone calls, play-date announcements fed the fuel that ignited what’s now become a raging inferno. Team Peanut Butter Jelly Time had an initial goal of … $2,000? That seems tiny, but I think that’s where we started.
We passed it in the blink of an eye, so we raised our goal.
Passed. We raised it again.
Passed.
Then the March of Dimes folks challenged us to raise $10,000. I’ll be honest. I didn’t think we’d make it in time.
We did. YOU did.
We are so lucky to have a passionate group of friends who have made our team a wild success. Their drive and generosity that inspired so many of their friends, families and coworkers to donate is nothing short of inspiring.
And to think Tobias, Eleanor and Callista are at the center of our team, living proof of why we’re raising money for March of Dimes – it takes my breath away.
My babies are helping others like them. They’re 5 months old, and they’re already giving back to their community.
Amazing.
We’re so thankful for March of Dimes. We’re thankful for all who have contributed to our team these past few months.
Tomorrow we’ll wear our Peanut Butter Jelly Time T-shirts with pride and celebrate our three March of Dimes miracles with a huge group of people celebrating their own miracles.
I’m getting all weepy writing this, and I’m sure I’ll be weepy more than once at tomorrow’s event, but I don’t care.
It’s for the babies!
Still want to donate? Please do! Click on the March for Babies box below to make your online contribution. Just $1 makes a difference.
CORRECTION: our initial goal was $1,000, for the whole entire team. At last check, we have raised almost $11,000. Amazing!
Way to go team! So very proud to be supporting you tomorrow and your three beautiful babies!!! They are going to be surrounded by their Aunts!!!
New goal? 12,000.
Rockstar babies need a rockstar team. Of course.
This definitely made me teary. I am so proud to be apart of this team and so proud of your family.
Totally crying reading this. So proud to be a part of something so amazing.
Congratulations on surpassing $10,000. That is absolutely amazing. You and your beautiful babies inspired me to put a team together here in New York. Our walk is on Sunday. We didn’t raise as much as your team but we are over $800.
Great job for such an amazing organization. I will be thinking about you on Sunday!