19 Week Update

I'm at 19 weeks today! I'll be starting the 20th week tomorrow and I am starting to feel like I'm getting somewhere! ;-) Not close enough to the finish line but getting there. This past week I've had a couple new experiences. First off I got the "ok" from my DR to take baths. It was a no-no during IVF time and I just never asked until now. I must tell you - it was heavenly. I'm trying to get more of those in. I feel SO much lighter. The funny thing is that my tummy sticks out of the water even with the tub filled up all the way and I kinda feel like a whale. LOL At least I'm in the water and not a beached whale. ;-) Honestly I love my tummy. It's doing some serious stretching as I can FEEL the skin stretching and my belly button is killing me these days so I have a feeling it's going to pop out soon. It's just about flat now. I've had 2 laparoscopies (surgery through the belly button), an umbilical hernia, and to top it off a belly button ring. My poor little belly button is a bit traumatized and filled with scar tissue so it's a bit painful when it stretches. I also discovered I can no longer wear my wedding ring. That was a sad day. I think it was maybe Monday when that happened. It's been getting tight and hurting a bit and of course it was steamy out (like every other day). It took forever to get it off and once it was off it was not going back on. I really miss it. I got a cheapo ring at Wal Mart to wear but of course that one is a bit too big. Ah well. I thought about wearing it around a necklace but I'm scared to death the chain will break and I'll lose it. I look at it longingly sometimes. :-) I had my first day of severe back pain on Tuesday. I was in so much pain it brought me to tears at work. I ended up leaving 30 minutes early because I just couldn't take it anymore. I laid down the rest of the night and that definitely helped. I'm really trying to make it to the end of August / first of September before having to go off work. Wondering how on earth I'm going to make it there some days. Other than that - I'm doing well. Babies are doing good. I still can't feel them strongly or horribly regularly but from what I read that is not uncommon. The day will come I am sure. I'm anxious for Nick to be able to feel them. Our next Peri appointment is on Tuesday the 29th. Can't wait to see the babes again. :-) Speaking of the babes! Here's what they are up to according to Baby Gaga:
Fetal development in pregnancy week 19:
Fetus in fifth month: Your amazing little baby is now around 10 inches in length! If this seems a bit shocking, you’ll be relieved to know they’ve not actually grown over 3 inches, but that their little legs are now straight enough to be measured. This is when doctors begin measuring fetal growth from head to toe, (no longer “crown to rump” or CR). Lanugo (little hairs) covers their whole body now, trapping that charming cheese-like vernix caseosa to the surface to the skin. This week your lil’ fetus will start on an appetizing diet of amniotic fluid which they are now capable of swallowing, digesting, and passing the fluid as far as their tiny “large” intestines. Fortunately for you, this nice little lump of baby-poop won’t be coming out while they’re still in your womb. Some time shortly after they’re born, this fun lump will become the first in a long line of baby poops. (What finally comes out— commonly known as “meconium” to the science world, will be black and sticky, and you’ll be very glad it happens only once!)

Here's some belly shots. I took one yesterday in my little peasant dress. I'm loving dresses because they don't touch my tummy but I don't have many. I usually end up just rolling down my shorts/pants. Anyway - here's the pics: