New Life

New Life

back on november 4, 2010...

me: (calls hubby) babes, i'm at HEB getting a pregnancy test. we missed our period last month.
him:  we did?
me:  well, i did. (giggle)
him:  okay. so, yeah, see what's up.
me:  i'll call you back when i get the results
him: okay.
me: love you
him: lubba dub
me: (giggle)

i purchase the HEB brand, single pack, pee on the stick. after comparing to the E.P.T. brand, its a matter of getting results. the HEB brand will do just fine. besides that, E.P.T. doesn't have a single pack, pee stick.

i get home, drink some water, take a shower, put some relaxing clothes on then pee on the stick. i place the stick face up on the side of the tub. the results should be evident in about 3 minutes, till then, i'll check my emails, update a few client's websites and set up those automated promo status updates i been meaning to do since last week.

after checking my emails, i checked the pee stick. it reads positive. well, i knew something was different. been craving that Golden Fried Chicken all week and Lord knows i don't eat fried fast food like that.

me: (calls hubby back)
him: so whats up?
me: its saying positive. we pregnant.
him: (giggles) ah, yeah?
me: (giggles) yep. (big cheesy grin)
him: i'll be home in a few hours.
me: okay, daddy. love you, babes.
him: hey, i love you, too.

babes get home, he saw the positive generic pee stick and insisted we go to HEB and get the name brand to make extra sure. its his first and my second in 25 years so i understood. we get the double pack E.P.T. brand. when we get back to the house i decide i'll take the test with my first morning urine for good measure.

the next morning...
me:  okay, its pee pee time
him: (gets out bed, walks to bathroom with me)
me: (looks at him while i pee on the stick)

stick says positive about 2 minutes later...
me: its positive, you're a daddy (big smile)
him: you sure those things are working?
me: well, hell, you bought the double pack. you wanna pee on the second stick?
(we both bust out laughing at the idea alone of him trying to get his first morning pee on that little, thin ass stick)

i gave him a kiss while we tried to keep his aim straight. we were still laughing. i went into the kitchen to drink some more water. i'll use the second stick on my next pee pee break. we both went to our office desks and started working. about 30 minutes or so later, i bring the second stick back to him; "positive".

we took the rest of the day off to just lay up and thank God for whatever He has in store for our future. i put the sticks in an air tight container for safe keeping. the suggestion that he pee on the stick still has us cracking up!

Victoria Di'Artrionne Gunter

June 14, 2011 (Flag Day), 10:04PM

5 lbs., 8 oz - 18 inches long

St. David's Medical Center, Austin, TX

38 weeks gestation, Cecerean birth

currently breastfed with soy formula suplement

Screw Your Pink Ribbon

The SCAR Project: Breast Cancer is NOT a Pink Ribbon

When I saw this post by my Auntie Paula on her Facebook wall, I was already in the know of understanding that the "pink ribbon" makes it cute to show your support. The reality of breast cancer survivors is the scars.

One of my nieces' mothers is a survivor of breast cancer and she is undergoing massive amounts of reconstructive surgeries on her breast. Her scars are not as neat as the women in this beautiful gallery are but with it being the 21st century, my hope is they will be.

My mother survived cervical cancer when I was 17. I remember vividly how weak she was after her hysterectomy. My pursuit to live a healthy lifestyle is a result of the fear I felt when she told me.

There is one photo in this gallery that made me tear up. As a woman, I wear both my breast proudly. They are a sign of my womanhood. It seems I felt this one woman's release in allowing herself to be photographed and seen in all her amazing beauty. She is indeed beautiful...the ugly stain of breast cancer couldn't cover that up.

Website:

http://www.thescarproject.org

Company Overview:

A temporary web gallery of some of The SCAR Project images can be viewed at: http://www.thescarproject.org/TheSCARProject30/

Mission:

The SCAR Project is a series of large-scale portraits of young breast cancer survivors shot by fashion photographer David Jay. Primarily an awareness raising campaign, The SCAR Project puts a raw, unflinching face on early onset breast cancer while paying tribute to the courage and spirit of so many brave young women.

Dedicated to the more than 10,000 women under the age of 40 who will be diagnosed this year alone The SCAR Project is an exercise in awareness, hope, reflection and healing. The mission is three-fold: Raise public consciousness of early-onset breast cancer, raise funds for breast cancer research/outreach programs and help young survivors see their scars, faces, figures and experiences through a new, honest and ultimately empowering lens.

The SCAR Project subjects range from ages 18 to 35 and represent the often overlooked group of young women living with breast cancer. (Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in young women ages 15-40). They journey from across America and the world to be photographed for The SCAR Project. Nearly 100 so far. The youngest 18.

Although Jay began shooting The SCAR Project primarily as an awareness raising campaign he was not prepared for something much more immediate . . . and beautiful: “For these young women, having their portrait taken seems to represent their personal victory over this terrifying disease. It helps them reclaim their femininity, their sexuality, identity and power after having been robbed of such an important part of it. Through these simple pictures, they seem to gain some acceptance of what has happened to them and the strength to move forward with pride.”