Baby new and why I should practice more (or at all) June 30, 2006

On the baby news front, I have managed (in the span of about a week) to go from a very healthy, boring pregnant patient to “high risk.” I can’t help but notice that they never say high-risk for what, exactly. Needing to have lots of blood drawn? Basically, I should know more Friday. My blood pressure is up pretty high (unusual for me, probably my terrible genes kicking in), and they ran a bunch of other blood tests last week to check liver and kidney functioning and other things I can’t quite remember. From what I can gather, the official diagnosis would be pre-eclampsia if things progress/get worse. If you are pregnant, I don’t recommend reading about this on the internet–it will only freak you out. My doctor has referred me to a high-risk OB at Baptist for Friday afternoon, which the nurse implied would mean that I won’t be able to deliver at the lovely new hospital about 1/4 of a mile from my front door. For now, it sounds like I’ll be seeing both doctors. Sheesh…Baby girl seems to be kicking stronger (seems to be rearranging the furniture at 3am each night, actually), so at least that is reassuring. I have also not been told to go to on bedrest yet, so I am glad for that. Annoyingly, I am continuing to feel good and normal, other than the obvious changes to my body shape (giving me an uncanny resemblance to a Dr. Seuss character, in my opinion). Shouldn’t I feel sick or something?

On a totally unrelated and unimportant note, I am annoyed with myself for not practicing my clarinet more (or at all, to be honest). Wednesday night, our church orchestra ran through this certain piece for Sunday, and it is honestly the most difficult piece of clarinet music I can recall being asked to play (even way back when I was a decent player and up to snuff). No one in my section can play certain parts at all, which is making me very sad. The silly piece is called “Hoe-down” of all things, and it is the symphony piece in the background of the current Beef Council commericial, if anyone cares. I remember laughing at the title before I actually looked at it. Thank goodness for phenomenal string players with the same part. I vow to practice more tomorrow, but I am plodding along like a 7th grader (at about 1/50th of the correct speed) and it is quite pathetic. It doesn’t make me feel better that the other three clarinet players say the same thing. In my personal opinion, it sounds better as a violin part anyway. Also, the baby is pressing on my lungs and making my tone suck. Whine, whine, whine…

I am off to bed. Despite the whining, life is pretty good right now. My summer job ended a bit earlier than I expected, which is giving me the chance to hang out at home and putter around with all the baby things that need to get ready sooner rather than later (especially in case this little person decides to make an early debut)…

and another thing… June 30, 2006

and another thing…

One more thing that is exciting and newsworthy…

When he gets back from the latest Salient trip (likely one of his last), Andrew is going to be leading worship at a small church in Murfreesboro for four or five weeks starting this month. It has definite potential to turn into a full-time job offer, so he is very excited and hopeful. We met the pastor and his family a few weeks ago and learned more about what they are looking for, but it looks like he’d be an excellent fit. I’ll tell more when I know more, but that would be a major change for us. Andrew has been playing/traveling with bands since I’ve known him, so I can’t really picture life without that element. He is such a hard worker at whatever job he happens to have, and I would love nothing more than for him to have a full-time job he actually loves–rather than just a way to pay the bills.  Hopefully more on that front soon…