Good Health, Fresh Starts, and Yellow Daffodils

Growing up there were certain words we weren’t allowed to say. Compared to other families, my parents were really strict on this…which I didn’t mind and am even thankful for today. [We even made up a new word for “fart” because my mom didn’t like the way it sounded (we called it “froof”)]! My husband says some of these words that just weren’t uttered in our home growing up. I often joke with him that we can’t have kids until he cleans up his “potty” mouth of words like “crap” and “sucks” (Even just typing them makes me wonder what mom and dad would think!!!)

When Derek talks about things "suck"-ing, I can't help but think of a 7th grade boy!!!

(Derek as a little boy) :)

Well, over the past few months, I’ve found myself making an exception and saying that “Diabetes sucks!” I’ve been living with this disease since I was 8 years old. I vividly remember giving myself my first shot as a little kid, testing my blood sugar several times throughout the day, taking 3 shots a day, watching carefully what I ate…and never experiencing the taste of candy bars, sugar coated cereals, and pop as a kid!

BUT I do also remember playing sports all year long, going to summer camp for 2 months every summer, spending 10 days in Italy after graduating high school, spending an adventurous 3 months in Boston, taking a 2 week Spring Break missions trip to New Orleans…not letting Diabetes stop me from doing anything and everything I wanted to do!

I never thought I’d start another blog, since I stopped writing on Xanga…what seems like forever ago! But lately I’ve found myself daydreaming about what my life would be like if things were different…if I would’ve gone to California for college, majored in Athletic Training, continued playing volleyball year-round, kept up with my Italian so I was fluent, owned a home in the city with a roof-top garden, had a fun and high paying job at the Art Institute…and didn’t have Diabetes.

Well life IS good… I have a personal relationship with Jesus, my Lord and Savior, who continually blesses me, the greatest (and hottest) husband in the world, an amazing family with a rich heritage that I cherish, wonderful friends who I can count on for anything, and a good job that provides health insurance and money to help pay the bills.

Diabetes definitely throws a curve into things, makes life more complicated, and causes me to have thoughts that race through my head all day long that the average person, w/out Diabetes would never think of or understand…but it is what it is.

Maybe it was all the wedding planning, moving, change in jobs, getting older, etc…but over the past 2 years I haven’t done the best job of keeping my health under control and taking care of my Diabetes has just seemed a lot harder.

With the hopes of having a baby someday (5 years down the road or so), wanting to live a healthy and long life with Derek, and some inspiration from Kerri's blog that I randomly came across (www.sixuntilme.com)…I plan to document my journey as I try to live the healthiest I can, while managing my Diabetes as best I know how.

With the lack of internet at our place, I can’t promise I will be consistent with this. I’m sure I’ll have random thoughts that I jot down here, and this blog may not be completely revolved around Diabetes….but it is a lot of who I am.

So...here goes! Here's to good health and fresh starts...and a lovely vase of sweet smelling, bright yellow daffodils that are sitting on my desk! (Sometimes it's the little things that brighten my day!!!)