Update on Mirena

For those of you who follow my blog, you know that I posted abut Mirena a few days after getting the IUD inserted. It was a quick post, eloquently titled "Mirena Sucks."

Most of you also know that I am a part of a yahoo group of DC Metro Mommies who post messages, ask questions, and hang out whenever we can lose the guilt of getting away from the kids and coughing up the $10 an hour for a sitter. About a week ago, a woman posted a message asking for advice on whether or not she should get Mirena inserted. Since I now have about 6 weeks of living with the device, I thought I should give her my comments. I have copied and pasted the comments I sent to the group below because 1)I'm a closet narcissist and 2)it's damn funny.

Enjoy.
(Note- KC I hope this one really makes you laugh!)

I just got Mirena inserted about 4 weeks ago. So far I'm up in the air as to whether or not I made the right choice for me. Here's my (short-term) experience though, for what it's worth...

Pros-
1-No more Pill (allergic to latex) and since I got pregnant with number 2 while on the Pill, I needed something that I didn't have to remember taking. I have 2 kids under 18 months. I do NOT want another one!

2-According to my OB/GYN it is as effective as getting one's tubes tied. This is good, since I get pregnant if DH looks in my direction (See #1)


Cons-
1-It hurt like hell getting inserted. For some reason this surprised me, though it shouldn't have considering they hold open your cervix with what amounts to an industrial-sized pair of pliers while shoving plastic into your uterus. It reminded me of the middle part of first stage labor. I also was in some pain walking for a few hours afterward. This could be because I had to go home and chase after my toddler while DH sat on the couch and checked his email.

2-I bled a LOT for the first two weeks. The nurse gave me a thin panty-liner when I left the office. I asked her "Will I bleed a lot from this?" Her answer was "Some women have some spotting." HA! I bled through my undies and shorts while waiting for the nice men to bring my car around at the free valet service at Reston Hospital. The bleeding continued for a few days, like a normal period, then stopped. 'Thank God,' I thought. Then... surprise! It came back. I had about 3 periods every 2-3 days. It seems to have stopped now though.

3-Every month you have to be comfortable with checking the plastic wires coming out of your cervix. I've tried and for some reason I can't feel the wires. So either I'm an idiot who's forgotten how to find my cervix or the crazy thing has dislodged, in which case I'm screwed (see #1 "Pros" again).

I couldn't tell you if it's the right choice for you, but wanted you to have some good info, even if there is a lot of TMI stuff. I think in the long term, if it stays in place, I'll be happy I did it. Until I have to get removed. I'll bring tequila to that appointment.

And I swear if Mirena doesn't work, DH (who's been dragging his feet about getting a vasectomy) will be presented late one night with me carrying some chloroform and "Home Vasectomies for Dummies."

All That I Really Needed to Know I Learned From Motherhood

I was thinking about all the things I've learned over the last year and a half, and how much I've changed. I only listed 20. I could have listed more. For all my readers with kids, please comment on some of your own! :-)

1-I've learned how much free time I actually had (and how unwisely I spent it) before I had kids.

2-I've learned that clothes wash, skin heals, and fun happens.

3-I've learned to never, ever judge other mothers because the moment I do, God will deal me their hand.

4-I've learned that television may rot a child's brain, but it's a great distraction for when I need to use the bathroom.

5-I've learned it is possible to be in love with more than one person at a time.

6-I've learned that I can't do it all by myself.

7-I've learned that most of the time the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and all the baby books in the world don't know nearly as much about my children as I do.

8-I've learned that the only person who is bothered by the house being messy is me.

9-I've learned that my husband is an amazing partner to have in the trenches of parenthood.

10-I've learned to eat meals standing up, and to forget to eat them sitting down when I actually can!

11-I've learned that things I used to enjoy, like fireworks and thunderstorms, become my hell on earth if they occur during bedtime.

12-I've learned that what my husband calls "caving to my kids" I call "picking my battles."

13-I've learned that sleeping in and showering are luxuries that I will never again take for granted.

14-Sadly (though I would never do this), I've learned how some mothers can lose it and hurt their kids. Thankfully, I'm learning daily how to have a tremendous amount of patience.
Note: That was maybe too sobering to post, but I honestly feel that empathy for women like this is not only something I've learned, but something that had to be said.

15-I've learned that my mother is the most amazing woman alive.

16-I've learned to enjoy my children.

17-I've learned that time really does go by too fast.

18- I've learned that the hardest job in the world doesn't bring home a pay-check.

19- I've learned to put another person's needs (or two... or three) ahead of my own.

20-I've learned to give up being a perfectionist. At least for now. ;-)

Naptime Prayer

Now I lay you down for nap
I pray to God you will not crap
and hope you sleep a good, long time
giving mommy a chance to unwind.

AMEN!

Naplessness

Nothing makes me crazier. You know your kids are tired. In the case of Eric, you know he's exhausted because he's hitting everything in sight and screaming in your face. In the case of Rachel... errr... well, I think this chick is an insomniac.

So you put them in their respective cribs and pray they sleep. Eric is usually pretty good about napping, but today he has decided that he would rather roll around and yell baby babble at the monitor. And Rachel... Lord. She's been up since 7:30am. Wide awake, not cranky or crying. Why did I have to birth the only baby who switched to a one nap cycle at the age of 3 months? She drives me crazy. But I'm trying to be optimistic- maybe she'll sleep through the night tonight.

Laurie (who felt like baking cookies this afternoon... I would never be so bold) will be leaving at 5pm tonight. John doesn't get home until 7. God help me. Two overtired, overstimulated kids.

Pictures

This is what happens when 2 geeks procreate

Why is it...?

That when one child won't nap, the other naps well?

That I can't find my nursing bra when I know exactly where I set it down?? (Mommy brain strikes again!)

When everyone in my family is awake (2 babies and John is quite a feat) and able to go to church, we end up not going in order to see a friend we haven't seen in ages (and then that friend can't come over at the last minute)?

That when John and I FINALLY get off the waiting list for Redskins Season Tickets (John's been on the list since 2002- two years before we started dating!), we have a toddler and a newborn (and therefore a)can't afford them, or b)can't go to any games!)???

That when you give a toddler Benedryl, the ONE TIME you want him to get sleepy, he ends up getting hyper-active?

That one of the few times I can sit down and update my blog, I have nothing cool to say??!!

I'm burning Babywise

I'm usually not into book burning. But I've HAD it with my 3 month old.

Just ONE DAY after posting to my mom's board about how Babywise was the best sleeping method book ever published, and how it got both of my kids sleeping through the night at 3 months, Rachel decides she's HAD it with night sleeping. So she is now waking me up every 3 hours. She's tired, but wants some comfort, I guess, so she thinks of my boobs. Lovely. She's not really hungry. She'll nurse for less than 5 minutes then fall back asleep.

And since it takes me, a raging insomniac, about an hour to fall asleep after getting up for only a 5 minute cuddle session when I have to get up at 7am for Eric, I want to sell her to gypsies.

So now I have to swallow my pride and post to the list, hoping another mom has had a similar experience and can give me some advice.

And to think that an 8 hour night was once considered a BAD thing... DH and I yawned through our anniversary dinner last night, and almost fell asleep during the Harry Potter movie.

Oh, the things I never thought I'd do until I had kids... :-(

Woodrow the White House Mouse...

is the new bane of my existence. Eric loves this book. I am reading it to him so many times during the day that I literally dream of reading the book at night. And since Rachel continues to wake up for an early morning feeding, I appreciate my dreams not sucking.

It's a cool book actually. It outlines the powers of the executive branch and gives children a colorful tour of the White House from the point of view of a newly elected President mouse and his family. It sounds boring, but it's a cute book. And as a former social studies teacher I wish I had a copy of this when I was desperately trying to get my ESL students to pass the standardized test for American Government.

Eric has actually said "Woodrow." And when I ask Eric to point to Woodrow, he can point him out on the cover and on every page.

But he won't say "mama." I'll tell him, "Eric, say 'mama!'" And he smiles and says, "Dada!"

Either my son is mentally challenged or enjoys screwing with me.

Pictures from our July 4th BBQ

Because everyone wants to see pictures of the kids... :-)




Eric finds the ice bucket full of beer.




Laurie holding Rachel (who still has that David Beckham hair!)




Eric has now become a picky eater. It's not what we're feeding him; it's what he actually eats. Tonight's fare? Doritoes! :-(

2 Quick Notes

1- I've become addicted to Rock Band. It's too bad I royally suck playing the guitar because it looks like it would be fun. I love the drums, however. Sucks I always get the mic. :-(

2- I'm cleaning and getting ready to host a BBQ tonight. I'm hoping to get some pics of the kids up. John's outside mowing, and Eric has decided to nap for 3 hours straight, God bless him. If only Rachel would discover the wonderful world of naps... :-(