Starting to enjoy the simple pleasures......

My husband, Matthew on Chappaquidick Island, Martha's Vineyard...I was married in this exact spot on the beach 14 years ago.

Since our diagnosis with juvenile diabetes on September 4, 2007..I can say that..."Life now holds more meaning". Day to day living in the past has been all about getting it done to get to the next project. When Tally was diagnosed I was running three businesses a landscape company, a plant nursery and a well established hot dog stand called Matty's dog shack. It really was three full-time jobs and then I got a fourth...taking care of Tally's type 1....I tried to hold it together until November 2009....that was it...I couldn't do it anymore....the plant nursery closed that fall for good...and our plan was to run the hot dog shack until spring and then sell...all went according to plan...we sold it March 1 of this year.

I felt my shoulders immediately lift....Tally has been with us everyday on every landscape job this summer...we bring her bike, scooter and a bathing suit and towel......its been a good summer....I never had such quality time with my husband and daughter....I count myself lucky that my......... "life now holds more meaning".

LIVE GOOD with diabetes: tallygear belt came in handy at the train depot......

LIVE GOOD with diabetes: tallygear belt came in handy at the train depot......

Tally has decided to do the JDRF Walk in Boston....

October 2, 2010. She wants to form team tally. She was so excited this morning her father, Matthew (who is a landscape contractor) had to look at a job with Dickie who owns a large construction company in our area....she had me print the sponsor form ...she found herself a clipboard and her trusty pink princess pen. They were on there way at 7am, she was ready....she was gonna get this one. The rest of the story told in the words of my husband...he had to break the ice but as soon as Tal was comfortable she rolled with it and had Dickie as her first sponsor and he generously donated $100.00 to JDRF for team tally (tallygear.com)..way to go Tally.....now the planning begins...she now wants to approach her principal Mrs. Kelly (tal goes to a school which requires uniforms) she wants to ask principal if kids can do a dress down day if they pay a dollar donation toward her JDRF walk. I can't imagine where this will take us but, I am sure it will be down a good road....more to come.

Tallygear at the ADA Expo In Hartford, Ct.

Early spring and tallygear did a American Diabetes Association Expo in Hartford Ct. We were very excited nervous and not just because it was our first venue but also we were to meet Bill Woods from the blog 1 happy diabetic. We had been in contact for almost a year via email but, never actually met....it was so cool....we all talked after the show and promised to stay in touch. It is now several months later and all is well....busy, busy gonna email Bill to say Hi. His blog address is www.1happydiabetic.com take a look, he has been diabetic for a long time and he not only puts a positive spin on diabetes but, also has lots of knowledge. Tally Annese, Bill Woods, Matthew Annese and Donna Annese from left to right.

Tally and I visit the new ALDI "green market"

at which point we meet a fellow diabetic (type 2) in the frozen food section. Tally asked me if she could get some frozen pops...and then proceeded go through "our routine" of checking the serving size the carb numbers (or as we call them the CRABS) and other. Then we decide if its a good choice.
As we are discussing her choice..... a 'fellow' diabetic figures out we are doing and wants to give input on carbs vs. insulin dosage...the gentlemen was in his 30's and insulin dependent and probably 150 pounds overweight, we discussed tal's pump and what we do to care for her diabetes and he was amazed with her insulin pump (he obviously uses needlles). I wanted to tell him that he and my daughter had little in common and that the two diagnosis had nothing to do with one another, but I just couldn't, which is not normally like me as my husband would say. Diabetes at times (most times) is extremely tiring.

Beta Buddies on blogger

I have recently come across a blog that I find very positive and I just wanted to share with you.
http://www.betabuddies.blogspot.com/ I have found that she is a very positive person and she has given me lots to think about. take a look.