September 23, 2009

One year ago today, Johnny Romano, 10, lost his battle to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Today, we invite you to join us as we continue to fight against childhood leukemia in Johnny’s name.

It gives me great pleasure to formally announce the JohnnyKicksCancer Foundation and newly launched website:

www.JohnnyKicksCancer.org

· Learn more about childhood leukemia

· Donate to JohnnyKicksCancer

· Find upcoming skate and surf events benefiting JohnnyKicksCancer and Make-a-Wish

· Buy the latest Johnny Romano decks, shirts, shoes and wheels

Our hearts still ache knowing we will never see Johnny skate again. When people hear childhood leukemia is ‘common’, they assume there is a cure. There is not yet a cure for the most common childhood cancer, leukemia.

Common Does Not Equal Cured.

Together, we can ensure JohnnyKicksCancer as we continue the fight in his name. Join me.

Julie Romano

Julie Romano

Executive Director

Julie@JohnnyKicksCancer.org

Rene Romano
Rene@JohnnyKicksCancer.org

Happy Grandparents Day!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Today, Nick started his first day of school! He is enrolled twice a week at a great Mother's Day Out program. If all goes well, he will continue at this school until Kindergarten - which seems eons away, but considering how quickly the past 22 months have flown by, I know it will be upon us more quickly than I can imagine. It is truly a privilege, especially in today's economy, to able to stay home with Nick. On most days, it's a blessing I wouldn't trade for any paycheck, title or perk of my former life. And then on other days.....well, those days I'll take a job at the 7/11 for a break from 24/7 Mommyhood. School for Nick twice a week seems like a much better option than making slushies at the 7/11!
Dropping Nick off this morning went really well. No tears...well, none from Nick. I had a moment. Mainly because I know that this is the first step of giving him over to the world - with all the joy and heartbreak that comes with it. I know, I know...you are screaming..."Get a grip! It's Mother's Day Out!". But hey, it's my baby and this is my blog;)

Random summer pics

Nick is so much fun. He still loves music and will tell me which songs he wants on the radio. He has also discovered "The Wiggles"...they sing alot...and grooves along to them.
Here's a few random photos of Nick. Hope you enjoy!

Welcome Ryan Marie Byrd!

August 8, 2009 was a day to circle for our family! Not only did Nik get married, but that morning Laura gave birth to a healthy, beautiful baby girl named Ryan Marie Byrd.
Laura has two boys and had been dreaming of her girl so we join her in her excitement over welcoming her daughter.
We were going to meet our niece last week, but as you can imagine the exhaustion of parents with three children under the age of four, they asked us to reschedule and we happily obliged.
As soon as I have pics of our newest girl, I'll be sure to post. Congrats Byrd family!

Goin' to the chapel.....

Disclaimer - I don't have one good picture of Nik & John's wedding since I was in it and Jay was chasing Nick. As soon as I have link to the photographer's photos, I will post it.

On August 8, my little sister, Nikki, became John Scully's wife. I have literally never seen a more beautiful or happier bride in my life! Nikki and John have known each other since high school and have been dating for 4 1/2 years, so it was quite a celebration.
Jay, Nick and I flew up to Chicago on Thursday and joined my parents, brother Austin, his girlfriend and several family members from Costa Rica in a house we rented in Wrigleyville. We kicked off the wedding weekend by making dinner, opening gifts and hanging out with our Costa Rican family Thursday night. It was like the relative calm before the wedding madness! Jay was a good sport since he had to take care of Nick while I ran around Chicago helping my sister.
The rehearsal dinner on Friday night was held at a Chicago staple, Giordanos Pizza. There was a great, casual vibe as everybody started getting excited for the next day's festivities. Roopa, one of the bridesmaids, put together a slideshow of Nikki and John which was the absolute show stealer.
Saturday was nuts.
Wedding day is always crazy and we were also working with the challenges that A)Nikki is the only person in the family that knows the way around Chicago and B) my dad was driving a rented 12 person passenger van. Let's just say it made for some stressful moments.
Nikki and John rented a trolley to take us, the wedding party, from the hotel, through Chicago for pictures and to the church. We had a great time and I can't wait to see the crazy pictures.
As for my Nick, well, he did his best, but it was difficult for him. He's a schedule kid and we basically laughed at the schedule during the wedding weekend. He DID make it up the aisle at the church....along with his "wubbie", a pacifier and holding Jay's hand.
The reception was held at Germania Place, near Lake Shore Drive and continued the beauty, joy and celebratory mood of the weekend. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. John Scully!

What do you mean, "It's almost August"?

Seriously, this summer has flown by at record speed. I feel like I just got used to it being July and somehow my calendar is telling me it's almost time to flip again. Really, August? Already?
I can't complain, though. We have filled our summer with many fun memories, trips and time spent with friends and family.
Let's see...July...
We celebrated the 4th of July by participating in the neighborhood parade - mental note: wagon needs to be thoroughly decorated on July 3rd to refrain from pre-parade chaos. My one ribbon was a poor showing, but having just arrived from Costa Rica the night before, I was only 25% mentally there myself. After naps, we headed to a pool party at Jen & John Taylor's house...in the Dove, of course. Nick showed off his dance moves as he stayed hydrated....




This month, our niece, Lillyanna (Jason's sister, Allison's daughter), turned 4 years old. Allison celebrated with a cute party at a place called the Pink Pokka Dot (no, I'm not a bad speller, that's really the name of this place). Anyway, it's mostly geared toward little girls with dress-up, mani/pedis and little girl makeovers followed by pizza, cake and a "dance party". Here's a picture of Nick trying to figure out whether or not the crown is edible, Lilly in her Princess dress and Sarah (Toni's daughter) in her crown.
My sister, Nikki, is on the final countdown before walking down the aisle on August 8th in Chicago. Of course, before making it legal, we had to make it fun! I joined Nik's closest friends for a weekend in Lake Geneva, WI, just about an hour north of Chicago. It was a fabulous weekend with some great stories, copious amounts of wine, a wedding shower lunch and a Saturday night bachelorette party. The only downer is that summer apparently skipped Wisconsin this year and it was WAY too cold to hang out by the pools or the lake.