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PERFECTBIRTH
14 years ago
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
October News and Events
Fall is on it's way in southeast Texas! The pecan trees are losing leaves, hurricane season is almost over, and high school football is in full swing.
As the owner of Gentle Expectations, I recently had to take a small hiatus to focus on my family. Things are back in order where they should be, and I am back and ready to get into the swing of things.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This month, 10% of all income generated by Gentle Expectations will go towards a charity that focuses on Breast Cancer research. I will also be posting a blog later, focusing on the issue.
The past few months, I have not been hosting Healing Birth. The venue that was so graciously loaning us space has opted to no longer do that. We appreciate everything they did in support of Healing Birth's first year. Special thanks to Joey and Tanya at the Barking Dog. We are looking for a new place to host this monthly meeting, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know.
There are so many changes in store over the next few months with Gentle Expectations.
I am making preparations to launch a new website, SETXmom.com. We had hoped to have this site running before Mother's Day of this year, but that did not go as planned, and the new launch date is Mother's Day, 2010. We want to make sure things are in perfect order before the launch. We hope to make it an awesome resource and social networking site for moms from the Louisiana border to the Houston/Katy area.
The Birth Guardian has not been published since its initial issue. Blame it on the economy, or just life in general. Soon, The Birth Guardian will be back, and not only will it be available in print, but it will also be available in a digital form online at both GentleExpectations.com and SETXmom.com.
I have recently been asked why I do not expand my services to include more things for moms and babies. All of these things take time and money, and I am just one little doula, working towards a cause. I have decided that I am not a one-stop-shop and am opting to devote my energy to what I am good at, which is pregnancy support. This does not mean that I will not offer henna, or hold events in support of other things, but my physical day to day effort will focus on childbirth education and birth doula services. I will be expanding my education in these areas as well, to better support the women to come to me.
Please be patient as I get all of these things in order. I am working hard to support the moms of southeast Texas, and change takes time.
As the owner of Gentle Expectations, I recently had to take a small hiatus to focus on my family. Things are back in order where they should be, and I am back and ready to get into the swing of things.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This month, 10% of all income generated by Gentle Expectations will go towards a charity that focuses on Breast Cancer research. I will also be posting a blog later, focusing on the issue.
The past few months, I have not been hosting Healing Birth. The venue that was so graciously loaning us space has opted to no longer do that. We appreciate everything they did in support of Healing Birth's first year. Special thanks to Joey and Tanya at the Barking Dog. We are looking for a new place to host this monthly meeting, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know.
There are so many changes in store over the next few months with Gentle Expectations.
I am making preparations to launch a new website, SETXmom.com. We had hoped to have this site running before Mother's Day of this year, but that did not go as planned, and the new launch date is Mother's Day, 2010. We want to make sure things are in perfect order before the launch. We hope to make it an awesome resource and social networking site for moms from the Louisiana border to the Houston/Katy area.
The Birth Guardian has not been published since its initial issue. Blame it on the economy, or just life in general. Soon, The Birth Guardian will be back, and not only will it be available in print, but it will also be available in a digital form online at both GentleExpectations.com and SETXmom.com.
I have recently been asked why I do not expand my services to include more things for moms and babies. All of these things take time and money, and I am just one little doula, working towards a cause. I have decided that I am not a one-stop-shop and am opting to devote my energy to what I am good at, which is pregnancy support. This does not mean that I will not offer henna, or hold events in support of other things, but my physical day to day effort will focus on childbirth education and birth doula services. I will be expanding my education in these areas as well, to better support the women to come to me.
Please be patient as I get all of these things in order. I am working hard to support the moms of southeast Texas, and change takes time.
Close to my heart...
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. We all know this. It is everywhere. Football players are wearing pink, there are walks, fundraisers, and something on the news every time we turn around.
Still, I want to take a minute to remind everyone to not overlook this month, and the meaning behind it.
I had the pleasure of doing henna on the head of a chemo patient, and a second time breast cancer survivor named Tara. Over the past year or so, Tara has become a friend.
While I have always had an awareness about breast cancer due to a strong family history, Tara's age, and her age when her first bout of cancer was discovered made me sit and think a little but harder about the issue. Tara was only 31 the first time around, and was 37 the second. At 26, and working with women of all ages, it served as a reminder that one does not have to be an older woman to experience this.
Tara also serves as a reminder that one CAN beat it, and still carry on with life. Tara is one of the most amazing women I have ever met, and holds a positive attitude at all times about everything. Below is the "Farewell Tour" letter that Tara sent her family and friends, as well as a couple of photos (copyright Fortenberry Photography). At the end of this blog, there will be some other words that Tara sent me, when I told her I was writing this blog.
Tara’s Ta-Tas
FAREWELL TOUR
2008
The Story:
As you know, Lefty (the sinister sister) has gotten herself hooked on CANCER. We battled her ‘addiction’ with surgery, radiation and 5 years of a low dose of chemotherapy (2002 – 2008)…..but she’s relapsed and is hooked on a more dangerous CANCER – the invasive kind. I’m afraid that her sister Boobara (the shy, quiet one), will suffer from the same addiction in future years. Therefore, both Lefty and Boobara are scheduled for a mastectomy on April 30th. No worries.
To honor their awesome life, I met with my good friends Matthew and Melinda Fortenberry to have photos taken of the ‘twins’ in their home studio. This is where YOU come in………I’ve attempted to do something positive, artsy and unique with this situation. I’ve enclosed a picture / pictures for my friends and family to help ‘bid thee farewell’. I want you to take a fine tip Sharpie (you don’t have one? what’s the world coming to??) or a pen and write something on the picture and mail back to me (self addressed, stamped envelope included – NO EXCUSES, just do it!). Doesn’t matter exactly what you choose to write as long as it is something that is either Positive, Humorous, Witty, Sincere, etc…… NO SADNESS!! This is a good thing! Think about it……be yourself…….be positive. I’m going to make a collage (or two) and display the awesome thoughts and words of my friends and family………DON’T forget to sign it!!! One person per photo, please. Write all over it, draw on it, whatever you want.
As an incentive……..whoever has the BEST comment will be entered for a chance to win free tickets and backstage passes for the upcoming Homecoming Tour (after the reconstruction – maybe next year). Don’t feel pressured, I might give out prizes for creativity, humor, sincerity, etc……you all have a chance to win!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, as a woman, I beg of you to keep up with monthly self breast exams. Get a mammogram. Don't ever over-look something that is suspicious, and trust your instincts. If one doctor brushes you off, find another. And if you can, donate to a cancer research organization, participate in an event, volunteer for a walk, and show support to the cause, the patients, the survivors, and the families of those affected by breast cancer.
10% of Gentle Expectations income in the month of October will be donated to a charity supporting breast cancer research.
What Breast Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited…
It cannot cripple Love
It cannot shatter Hope
It cannot corrode Faith
It cannot destroy Peace
It cannot kill Friendship
It cannot suppress Memories
It cannot silence Courage
It cannot invade the Soul
It cannot steal Eternal Life
It cannot conquer the Spirit
Spare me your pity,
Your terror, your condolence.
The breasts are gone
But I am
Whole
Disfigurement
Need not include
My soul
Ode to Boobs, by Pip Bishop
Dear boobs,
This heartfelt apology goes out to you all
For moaning you’re too big or moaning you’re too small
For wishing you didn’t hang like puppies in sacks
Or just disappear when we lie on our backs
For squashing you flat with a minimizing cup
or those torture bras that push you right up.
Why is it always your bad points we mention
Like your inverted nips or your water retention?
Why don’t we love you as much as our men
Or the babies that love you all over again?
Maybe we’re scared to show you we care
In case, one day, you’re simply not there.
Still, I want to take a minute to remind everyone to not overlook this month, and the meaning behind it.
I had the pleasure of doing henna on the head of a chemo patient, and a second time breast cancer survivor named Tara. Over the past year or so, Tara has become a friend.
While I have always had an awareness about breast cancer due to a strong family history, Tara's age, and her age when her first bout of cancer was discovered made me sit and think a little but harder about the issue. Tara was only 31 the first time around, and was 37 the second. At 26, and working with women of all ages, it served as a reminder that one does not have to be an older woman to experience this.
Tara also serves as a reminder that one CAN beat it, and still carry on with life. Tara is one of the most amazing women I have ever met, and holds a positive attitude at all times about everything. Below is the "Farewell Tour" letter that Tara sent her family and friends, as well as a couple of photos (copyright Fortenberry Photography). At the end of this blog, there will be some other words that Tara sent me, when I told her I was writing this blog.
Tara’s Ta-Tas
FAREWELL TOUR
2008
The Story:
As you know, Lefty (the sinister sister) has gotten herself hooked on CANCER. We battled her ‘addiction’ with surgery, radiation and 5 years of a low dose of chemotherapy (2002 – 2008)…..but she’s relapsed and is hooked on a more dangerous CANCER – the invasive kind. I’m afraid that her sister Boobara (the shy, quiet one), will suffer from the same addiction in future years. Therefore, both Lefty and Boobara are scheduled for a mastectomy on April 30th. No worries.
To honor their awesome life, I met with my good friends Matthew and Melinda Fortenberry to have photos taken of the ‘twins’ in their home studio. This is where YOU come in………I’ve attempted to do something positive, artsy and unique with this situation. I’ve enclosed a picture / pictures for my friends and family to help ‘bid thee farewell’. I want you to take a fine tip Sharpie (you don’t have one? what’s the world coming to??) or a pen and write something on the picture and mail back to me (self addressed, stamped envelope included – NO EXCUSES, just do it!). Doesn’t matter exactly what you choose to write as long as it is something that is either Positive, Humorous, Witty, Sincere, etc…… NO SADNESS!! This is a good thing! Think about it……be yourself…….be positive. I’m going to make a collage (or two) and display the awesome thoughts and words of my friends and family………DON’T forget to sign it!!! One person per photo, please. Write all over it, draw on it, whatever you want.
As an incentive……..whoever has the BEST comment will be entered for a chance to win free tickets and backstage passes for the upcoming Homecoming Tour (after the reconstruction – maybe next year). Don’t feel pressured, I might give out prizes for creativity, humor, sincerity, etc……you all have a chance to win!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, as a woman, I beg of you to keep up with monthly self breast exams. Get a mammogram. Don't ever over-look something that is suspicious, and trust your instincts. If one doctor brushes you off, find another. And if you can, donate to a cancer research organization, participate in an event, volunteer for a walk, and show support to the cause, the patients, the survivors, and the families of those affected by breast cancer.
10% of Gentle Expectations income in the month of October will be donated to a charity supporting breast cancer research.
What Breast Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited…
It cannot cripple Love
It cannot shatter Hope
It cannot corrode Faith
It cannot destroy Peace
It cannot kill Friendship
It cannot suppress Memories
It cannot silence Courage
It cannot invade the Soul
It cannot steal Eternal Life
It cannot conquer the Spirit
Spare me your pity,
Your terror, your condolence.
The breasts are gone
But I am
Whole
Disfigurement
Need not include
My soul
Ode to Boobs, by Pip Bishop
Dear boobs,
This heartfelt apology goes out to you all
For moaning you’re too big or moaning you’re too small
For wishing you didn’t hang like puppies in sacks
Or just disappear when we lie on our backs
For squashing you flat with a minimizing cup
or those torture bras that push you right up.
Why is it always your bad points we mention
Like your inverted nips or your water retention?
Why don’t we love you as much as our men
Or the babies that love you all over again?
Maybe we’re scared to show you we care
In case, one day, you’re simply not there.
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