7
Challenge #2
Posted by The Design Experiment
on
10:08 AM
Super-Human You:
We challenge you to remember a time when you had super-human strength, either physically or emotionally. Think back to this time, how did you feel? How do you feel know? How has this changed you?
You can also think about what gives you strength in those tough times, what do you rely on to give you that super-human strength, even if you don't think you can make it through.
Create a layout or altered project, and add the link in our comments for this post. We will choose a winner on March 31st, so make sure your entries are posted in the comments by the 30th at midnight!
Here are the X Teams Takes on the Challenge:
Birth Story
By Emily
Journaling:
I was so ready for you to come out. You had been growing inside me for nine and a half months, and I couldn’t wait to meet you. I was overdue, and very uncomfortable, and my doctor decided to induce me on a Tuesday morning, November 27th, 2007. I immediately knew that it would be a lucky day. Not just because you would be born on this day, but because you’re birthday would be 11-27-07, all prime numbers, and I was born on the 27th day of April. I don’t know why this put me at ease, but it did.
I was called at 4:15am on Tuesday morning by the admitting nurse, and were told it was time to come in and be induced. Within 15 minutes, we were out the door. Nana had stayed with us the night before, ready to watch your brothers if we had to rush off to the hospital.
We arrived at the hospital twenty minutes after they had called and they laughed to see our eagerness. Mommy and Daddy were so excited to finally get to meet you!
Once I was checked in, the induction process started. I was given an IV of fluids, and had chosen to be induced by a pill called Cytotec which was a much slower and more natural drug for induction. I was afraid of using the IV drug Pitocin, which causes extremely hard and fast contractions and I was set on delivering you naturally.
Seven hours later nothing had happened. I was still dilated to the two centimeters I had been when I was admitted to the hospital. The decision was made to start a pitocin drip, and I was scared. Scared that my labor would be too intense to handle naturally, I was afraid of failing. Failing myself, my resolve to deliver naturally, and fail you. But I relented. The Pitocin was given at 2pm, and I immediately began to feel its effects. Two hours later I was in active labor, breathing heavily and making low toned noises through each painful contraction. I sat on the bed, on all fours, rocking gently back and forth to try and ease the pain. I was checked again and my cervix was dilated to 4cm. I was crushed. I thought for sure the pain I was feeling would mean that I was close to delivering you. I began to doubt my ability to make it through the pain. I then asked for the epidural. Daddy asked me if I was sure I wanted to have the medicine, he knew how desperately I wanted to deliver you naturally. I told him I didn’t think I could make it. I was then told that there was a wait for the anesthesiologist, apparently there were three other mommies having their babies who wanted epidurals too! I was fourth in line. I never expected the wait to be as long as it was. We waited and waited, and I breathed and breathed through each contraction. Each contraction would be more painful than the previous one. And each time the pain intensified my moans became louder and louder. Two hours later the anesthesiologist arrived and began the process of preparing for the epidural. By this time I was screaming through each contraction, the pain was almost unbearable, but I knew that the end result was worth the discomfort. It took twenty minutes for the anesthesiologist to prepare, and as he put the needle into my back, my water broke. I looked up at the nurse and said: “Oh! I think my water just broke!” She said it was okay, and I needed to be very still. As soon as the needle was taken out of my back, I was beginning to feel and intense urge to push. I told our nurse that I felt like I needed to push, and she said I needed to wait because our doctor, Doctor Blackburn, was on route from the clinic and had not arrived at the hospital yet. She decided to check my cervix and we were all extremely surprised to learn I was 9.5cm dilated! The nurse immediately shut off the epidural IV, and told me to hold on. She ran out to the hallway and asked for any on-call doctor to assist in the birth of you in case Dr. Blackburn couldn’t make it to the hospital on time! By this time I was squirming, just aching to push. The intense urge was so hard to deny, but I knew it was safer to wait until a doctor, ANY doctor arrived to assist. I screamed out to the nurse, “I NEED to push!!” And she came over to check me once again. Within the five minutes that had passed, I was fully dilated to 10cm, and you were coming! She informed me and Daddy that she could see the top of your head and that you had a lot of dark hair! At this point I became nervous! I had never done this naturally before! Your brothers were both born while I was under the influence of an epidural. I was scared of the pain, scared of the unknown. Just as I thought I could not bear the urge to push any longer, Doctor Blackburn came rushing in. He threw on a gown over his suit and stepped into booties over his nice shoes. He said, “Okay, lets have a baby!” And I began to push. Ten minutes later I heard the most beautiful sound a mom can hear. A sound I would hear for the third time in my life. My little child taking their first breath. You little cry warmed my soul and washed over me like a warm blanket. I felt such pure joy. Daddy looked at me with complete adoration in his eyes and said: “You did it!” I looked back with tears and said, “I did, didn’t I?!” And he gently kissed my forehead. You were placed on my chest and within seconds you were nursing contentedly. You were the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen in my life.
Each labor and delivery I have been through has been special in it’s own way. But this was so different. I felt so empowered: as a mom, as a woman. I felt like the strongest person alive, and felt that from then on, I could accomplish anything. Your birth forever changed me. I now see myself as a strong woman, someone who knows who she is, and what she wants. I am no longer afraid of the unknown. No longer afraid to stand up for what I want, what I think is right. Your birth did this for me, and for that I am forever grate ful. I love you so much my sweet girl, and I hope one day you will read this, as a mom with children of your own, and know exactly how I felt and know the strength I have received by simply becoming your mom.
Addiction...Strength
By Wendy
Journaling:
I am a complete and total sugar addict! I have always loved a good meal of just candy or dessert. It's comforting to me for some reason. Especially chocolate. If I am feeling down and out or tired or I have gotten bad news... something sweet seems to always pull me through. I think it is my strength sometimes to get me through some situations or just a bad day. Pure comfort that I don't think I could ever give up.
Leaving You
By Kimmi
Journaling:
One of the hardest days of my life was the day that I was discharged from the hospital after giving birth to you. You were admitted to the ICU when you were one day old and spent fourteen more nights in the Special Care Nursery. Having to walk out of the hospital without you in my arms was heartbreaking. I had to be strong. I came and sat with you every morning and every evening. Bathing you, feeding you, and tucking you in. Most days there was no one to bring me to see you. I wasn't supposed to drive, but I did. I was supposed to be resting and recovering, but how was I supposed to rest and relax, knowing you were not home with me. The doctors and nurses assured me just about every day that you should be able to go home the following day. That finally happened the day after your first Valentine's Day. One of the best days ever.
The Most Important Phone Call
By Katie Watson
Journaling: 
We can't wait to see what you all come up with for this challenge!
Happy Scrapping!
The Design X
We challenge you to remember a time when you had super-human strength, either physically or emotionally. Think back to this time, how did you feel? How do you feel know? How has this changed you?
You can also think about what gives you strength in those tough times, what do you rely on to give you that super-human strength, even if you don't think you can make it through.
Create a layout or altered project, and add the link in our comments for this post. We will choose a winner on March 31st, so make sure your entries are posted in the comments by the 30th at midnight!
Here are the X Teams Takes on the Challenge:
Birth Story
By Emily
Journaling:
I was so ready for you to come out. You had been growing inside me for nine and a half months, and I couldn’t wait to meet you. I was overdue, and very uncomfortable, and my doctor decided to induce me on a Tuesday morning, November 27th, 2007. I immediately knew that it would be a lucky day. Not just because you would be born on this day, but because you’re birthday would be 11-27-07, all prime numbers, and I was born on the 27th day of April. I don’t know why this put me at ease, but it did.
I was called at 4:15am on Tuesday morning by the admitting nurse, and were told it was time to come in and be induced. Within 15 minutes, we were out the door. Nana had stayed with us the night before, ready to watch your brothers if we had to rush off to the hospital.
We arrived at the hospital twenty minutes after they had called and they laughed to see our eagerness. Mommy and Daddy were so excited to finally get to meet you!
Once I was checked in, the induction process started. I was given an IV of fluids, and had chosen to be induced by a pill called Cytotec which was a much slower and more natural drug for induction. I was afraid of using the IV drug Pitocin, which causes extremely hard and fast contractions and I was set on delivering you naturally.
Seven hours later nothing had happened. I was still dilated to the two centimeters I had been when I was admitted to the hospital. The decision was made to start a pitocin drip, and I was scared. Scared that my labor would be too intense to handle naturally, I was afraid of failing. Failing myself, my resolve to deliver naturally, and fail you. But I relented. The Pitocin was given at 2pm, and I immediately began to feel its effects. Two hours later I was in active labor, breathing heavily and making low toned noises through each painful contraction. I sat on the bed, on all fours, rocking gently back and forth to try and ease the pain. I was checked again and my cervix was dilated to 4cm. I was crushed. I thought for sure the pain I was feeling would mean that I was close to delivering you. I began to doubt my ability to make it through the pain. I then asked for the epidural. Daddy asked me if I was sure I wanted to have the medicine, he knew how desperately I wanted to deliver you naturally. I told him I didn’t think I could make it. I was then told that there was a wait for the anesthesiologist, apparently there were three other mommies having their babies who wanted epidurals too! I was fourth in line. I never expected the wait to be as long as it was. We waited and waited, and I breathed and breathed through each contraction. Each contraction would be more painful than the previous one. And each time the pain intensified my moans became louder and louder. Two hours later the anesthesiologist arrived and began the process of preparing for the epidural. By this time I was screaming through each contraction, the pain was almost unbearable, but I knew that the end result was worth the discomfort. It took twenty minutes for the anesthesiologist to prepare, and as he put the needle into my back, my water broke. I looked up at the nurse and said: “Oh! I think my water just broke!” She said it was okay, and I needed to be very still. As soon as the needle was taken out of my back, I was beginning to feel and intense urge to push. I told our nurse that I felt like I needed to push, and she said I needed to wait because our doctor, Doctor Blackburn, was on route from the clinic and had not arrived at the hospital yet. She decided to check my cervix and we were all extremely surprised to learn I was 9.5cm dilated! The nurse immediately shut off the epidural IV, and told me to hold on. She ran out to the hallway and asked for any on-call doctor to assist in the birth of you in case Dr. Blackburn couldn’t make it to the hospital on time! By this time I was squirming, just aching to push. The intense urge was so hard to deny, but I knew it was safer to wait until a doctor, ANY doctor arrived to assist. I screamed out to the nurse, “I NEED to push!!” And she came over to check me once again. Within the five minutes that had passed, I was fully dilated to 10cm, and you were coming! She informed me and Daddy that she could see the top of your head and that you had a lot of dark hair! At this point I became nervous! I had never done this naturally before! Your brothers were both born while I was under the influence of an epidural. I was scared of the pain, scared of the unknown. Just as I thought I could not bear the urge to push any longer, Doctor Blackburn came rushing in. He threw on a gown over his suit and stepped into booties over his nice shoes. He said, “Okay, lets have a baby!” And I began to push. Ten minutes later I heard the most beautiful sound a mom can hear. A sound I would hear for the third time in my life. My little child taking their first breath. You little cry warmed my soul and washed over me like a warm blanket. I felt such pure joy. Daddy looked at me with complete adoration in his eyes and said: “You did it!” I looked back with tears and said, “I did, didn’t I?!” And he gently kissed my forehead. You were placed on my chest and within seconds you were nursing contentedly. You were the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen in my life.
Each labor and delivery I have been through has been special in it’s own way. But this was so different. I felt so empowered: as a mom, as a woman. I felt like the strongest person alive, and felt that from then on, I could accomplish anything. Your birth forever changed me. I now see myself as a strong woman, someone who knows who she is, and what she wants. I am no longer afraid of the unknown. No longer afraid to stand up for what I want, what I think is right. Your birth did this for me, and for that I am forever grate ful. I love you so much my sweet girl, and I hope one day you will read this, as a mom with children of your own, and know exactly how I felt and know the strength I have received by simply becoming your mom.
Addiction...Strength
By Wendy
Journaling:
I am a complete and total sugar addict! I have always loved a good meal of just candy or dessert. It's comforting to me for some reason. Especially chocolate. If I am feeling down and out or tired or I have gotten bad news... something sweet seems to always pull me through. I think it is my strength sometimes to get me through some situations or just a bad day. Pure comfort that I don't think I could ever give up.
Leaving You
By Kimmi
Journaling:
One of the hardest days of my life was the day that I was discharged from the hospital after giving birth to you. You were admitted to the ICU when you were one day old and spent fourteen more nights in the Special Care Nursery. Having to walk out of the hospital without you in my arms was heartbreaking. I had to be strong. I came and sat with you every morning and every evening. Bathing you, feeding you, and tucking you in. Most days there was no one to bring me to see you. I wasn't supposed to drive, but I did. I was supposed to be resting and recovering, but how was I supposed to rest and relax, knowing you were not home with me. The doctors and nurses assured me just about every day that you should be able to go home the following day. That finally happened the day after your first Valentine's Day. One of the best days ever.
The Most Important Phone Call
By Katie Watson
Journaling:
It's like you knew that it was your daddy on the phone. You were less then 30 minutes old and I was trying to describe you to Daddy. You were watching me like you understood exactly what was going on. Daddy was in Japan on a six month deployment. You and I were in Washington State and this was our most important phone call....the one from Daddy.
We can't wait to see what you all come up with for this challenge!
Happy Scrapping!
The Design X
