Best of Zoo Friends

Welcoming Zephie Delal

I made this comparison the day before Baby Sis was born. Zander's was taken at 36.5 weeks, and he was born at 38.5 weeks. While Baby Sis was taken at 37.5 weeks just two days before she was born!  Can you tell how much lower baby sis is and that she was 1.5 pounds lighter than Zander at birth.

Here's the Story...

On Monday, October 24th, Andy's mom and dad came to Iowa City to get Zander for a couple nights so Andy and I could spend all day together to celebrate my birthday the next day.  We were so excited and I already had the day completely planned out. Including all the birthday deals in town, free Starbucks, Texas Roadhouse, and the Atlas.  Also enjoying some splurges like going to get my hair cut and going to a matinee movie. The last time we would get to go all out before our baby girl would be born. I was SO PUMPED!
I went to bible study after Zander left with Andy's Mom and Dad the night before, feeling good. When I got home Andy and I went to Java House for a pre-party warm-up for the next day. One of the last things I said to Andy before bed was that I didn't want to have the baby on my birthday because I wanted to spend all day celebrating with him, then I asked him "Is that selfish" I think he said No, but honestly I feel asleep within minutes of that. 

I woke up a few hours later at 2 am. with "gas cramps" This is vaguely familiar. Remember Zander's Story? Went to bathroom, laid back down, and felt like I was leaking... meaning-Was I peeing the bed? I couldn't stop myself, but it wasn't enough to make me know with confidence that "yep my water broke".  Another cramp, more leakage, called Labor and Delivery, took a bath, contractions 5ish minutes apart, Andy started packing and running around because they were getting longer and stronger. Quickly!  We had nothing prepared or packed for the hospital yet!

3:30 We were on our way to the hospital. I was eating ice cubes between contractions, and wearing one of Zander's cut up diapers to keep the van seat dry (my water was slowly breaking and I didn't have any pads... that's why!!) We got to the monitoring room at 4am. Feeling like this is happening FAST, and this was NOT my plans for my birthday! It was just supposed to be him and I.

 At 5:30, I had an epidural and was soon 8 cm dilated. They needed to get my antibiotics in fast (I was strep B positive and ideally they would start them 4 hours before delivery, so they wanted things to slow down at this point). We chilled, relaxed, made some phone calls,  and at 6:30 I was 10 cm, but everyone was in no hurry because they wanted the antibiotics to get in. Doctor Sheppard came in at 7 am and I started pushing, but it still just seemed kinda we'll-see-how-this-baby-progresses but not the REAL DEAL yet bc I wasn't even pushing on every contraction. At about 7:30 I knew it was for real because the lights came down, the doc got her full get-up on, and all the tools ready. I just knew it was TIME! One contraction later baby sis's head was out! In an instant I went from thinking "This was not my plans for my birthday" to "complete fallin' in love with this beautiful girl that God has given to me". She was perfect and the best birthday gift God could have given to me.  

7:35 Zephie Delal Bishop was born. Weighing 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 20 inches long.  She was a peanut compared to Zander! I had some minor complications of delivering the placenta and heavy bleeding immediately afterwards, but other than that Zephie was perfectly healthy. 

So that's the story..... 

Once again, I'm blown away with God's timing. He always has the perfect plan. What a special way to celebrate my birthday this year, and all the years to come.

I was worried about not getting my free starbucks:o). Well Andy still went there and they gave him 2 free ones! Oh yeah, could the day get any better?

Oh yeah...... it can get better! Look at who came to celebrate with us!

Zephie, we are blessed and excited to welcome you into our family! Let the journey begin!

love

Atypical Saturday: in pictures

Last Saturday was atypical for us during our time back in Iowa. We didn't travel anywhere, and didn't really have ANY plans/errands to run (with exception of a Birthday dinner later in the evening) It was really a refreshing day!  We also had just got a new camera (total God story) the day before, so I was anxious to try and figure out how it works. So thought I would document our day with pictures. 

 6 am: Daily quiet time in the Word

  7 am: I heard the pitter-patter on the wood floors so I knew Zander was awake. 

  This is what I immediately open the door to... PREC-IOUS!

 Lights on!

 7:30- Malt-O-Meal for breakfast. (Daddy is having a Men's Breakfast this morning at Grace)

 8 am: Story Time on Mama's lap

Looking for squirrels

 

We found one!

9 am: Finishing up my bible study while Zander watches "Saturday Morning Cartoons"

 9:30: Check and send a couple emails while Z's video finishes

 10 am: Andy gets home from men's breakfast and we go for a walk

 Enjoy the park

 Daddy likes to play too!

 Come home (that's our place in the background, we share a parking lot with a small church) They are raising money so we had lunch there. BBQ ribs. 

 Thank You! Yummm-oooo !

"More mommy!?!?" Sorry BBQ face... all gone!

 

Played "This little piggy"

 Hung-up my new project. Recycled paper collage. 

Got ready to go out for our friends bday party. 

 High School/College buds. Andy and Justin

 Happy 29th Birthday Justin-eo

 Date-night photo

35 weeks

August at a Glance

Here's are some snapshots of some things we did in August!

Got to go visit Grandma Great in the Nursing home, boating with Cousin Sara and family in Minnesota, grandparents,  Dax, college friends, high school friends, and even some friends that we met in Duhok were driving through Iowa City for the night. Lots of quality time visiting.

Volunteered at one of the many Grace's Backyard Bible Club's and also at the Big Picnic service for Grace at the City Park in Iowa City.

Got to spend a family day at the Iowa State Fair! Fully packed with "milking" cows, inflatables, corn dogs, and tractors.

Enjoyed some great family times with just Andy, Zander, and I. Zander's favorite activities this month were playing at the playground, play-dough, drawing, puzzles, and running without his shoes on. Thank goodness he's not asking to climb on the swing sets like the other kiddos in one of the pictures below are doing.(kids in Iowa are crazy too!)

Here's Z-man in action. Well, it was after his drawing was finished and he was admiring his creation. So I thought I would ask him what his drawing was about on video. Little did I know he had another message to tell me!