1,980

I have just set the kitchen timer for twenty minutes. If whatever I do not really have to say cannot be said in that time it will go unsaid. Seriously. I felt embarrassed when I realized how long, how very very long that last post wound up being. My lack of self-control will be my undoing. But not today.

Caroline - who has been more or less indifferent to literature; certainly when compared to her brothers - suddenly developed a passion for one particular book: Hush Little Alien. She rootles through the toy basket (when Edward outgrew the Moses basket in which he slept I moved it to the floor to hold toys; I still think this was resourceful and I mention it because I am not usually clever like that) looking for this one book and when she finds it she races over and chucks it at my face. Endearing. So I read/sing it to her (it's Hush Little Baby with aliens, a Patrick hand-me-down) and she dances and then when it is over she picks it up and shouts "A'un!" which is either "again" or "alien" or possibly "di di mao" and repeats the whole face chuck. Ad infinitum. Precious.

Actually I do find it precious, which is how toddlers manage to survive to preschoolhood despite the foot stamping and the neverending hilarity of waiting until you finally get up from scrubbing whatever it is off the floor before letting the next round fly...

the toy phone is all alone in the living room saying HELLO! and then GOODBYE! every thirty seconds, which is the toy's subtle way of announcing a decreased battery charge. it did the GOODBYE thing at four in the morning once and I almost had a heart attack - imagine waking up to a creepy disembodied voice saying goodbye from a dark corner... excuse me while I go slaughter the phone and bury the remains in the garden - this is not counting toward my twenty minutes...   

So Caroline had one of us read Hush Little Alien to her eleventy billion times this weekend and she wanted to take it to bed with her last night.

Sidenote: as part of my patented Path of Least Resistance parenting approach I have always let Caroline and Edward (and Patrick before them) clutter their cribs with whatever they think they might require in the night in the hopes that it will prevent them from summoning me in the dark watches. Patrick for months slept on top of a quilted alphabet wall hanging with a three foot-long metal fire truck  surrounded by twenty books. Edward has two blankets, his music player, his bear, his lion, EarDeer, LegDeer, a rubber duck and (probably the same) twenty books. Caroline has her two blankets, a puzzle toy, a frog (frrrrruh) a duck (duuuh) a very small bear (baaaah) and some books as well. Yes, they probably take longer to fall asleep at night because they play first. Yes, they probably wake up in the night and play some more. And yes, they definitely wake up in the morning and start playing. Like the bartenders of old, though, I firmly believe that you don't have to go home but you do have to get the hell out of here. In other words, I don't care what you do after bedtime just as long as I don't have to be personally involved.      

Ha! Look at me swaggering around like a badass now that it has been two whole weeks since the twinkles stopped - mostly - screaming for me in the middle of the night. Caroline was crying this morning around 4:30 and she had a thirsty sort of look about her but did not want water in a cup and I was really fucking tired (why? I don't know. I have been sleeping so much lately that you would think I would have caught up by now) so I did the one thing my pediatrician said specificially not to do: I gave her actual milk in an actual bottle. Then Edward woke up a little later so I gave the rest to him. They both slept until a quarter to ten this morning. I'm not sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

Gracious. My point.

Caroline took her favorite book to bed with her last night and there is precedent for doing so. However, I am now regretting this because when I went to get her this morning I discovered that she must have been busy trying to figure out what, exactly, makes this book so good. She has performed a board book autopsy and it is now in nine distinct pieces.

"A'un?" she asked hopefully, holding up the tattered spine.

Did I mention this is her favorite, her very favorite, book?

As Steve walked out the door to drive the car pool I said, oh, hey, Cricket's disemboweled the alien book so would you swing by Borders after you drop-off the kids and grab another copy before she realizes what she has done and becomes unbearable?

Over indulgent? Most likely. Practical? Indubitably. Clueless about publishing cycles and book retailing? Apparently. Not only did Borders not have a copy they acted like they had never heard of it. Ditto Barnes and Noble. Amazon has a few used copies but fails to distinguish between an actual hardback and a hardback paper on board - the former being completely useless unless we need confetti - and I don't feel like springing twenty bucks to find out which one I have purchased.

Any thoughts on how to get an out of print board book before Caroline's lovely green-grey eyes fill with tears? I would be grateful.

Paraguard! IUD! As promised:

I have now had four post-IUD cycles. The first month things were normal but my period lasted for just over two weeks. Meh. Meh, I say. The next month was much shorter and painless but I thought I was going to bleed to death the entire time. So there was that. Third and fourth month started with half a day of hideous cramps (I never got cramps before. never) followed by a day of near-desanguination followed by a normalish five day cycle.

So in conclusion: Actual insertion was kinda painful but not ohmygodI'mdying. I do have a high tolerance for pain, though, so take that for what it is worth. Periods for me are now heavier with some additional discomfort. I would call it "acceptable but not ideal". My arrangement with Steve was that I would try it for six months and then we would reassess the vasectomy option at that point. I am pretty sure I am going to re-lobby for a trip to the urologist but I am willing to deal with the IUD in the meantime.

I have gotten a lot of questions about this and I am just one data point so I would really appreciate it if you would leave your IUD (Mirena or Paraguard or... is there another one?) experiences in the comments if you have one. That way someone trying to figure out what to do re. semipermanent birth control can read our wildly divergent opinions and be more confused than ever. At least they will know they are not alone.

Steve and Patrick were very busy this weekend now that morels have come to Minnesota. I swear to god I am never going to be done with these horrible little things [Confidential to Sarah in Michigan from Patrick: tell your husband to look for morels around dead elm trees. I will now pull my fingers from my ears] and Caroline and Edward and I are getting a little sick of each other's unalleviated company. We read books. We look for cats under the bed. We color until 66% of us start gnawing on the crayons like crudité and 33% of us say "Oh for heavens sake! enough! your teeth are purple!" and remove the crayons leaving the original two-thirds in tears. It gets a little boring and I am always looking for new things to do.  

So I was pleased when I discovered on Saturday that my Christmas camera has a timer that lets one take a series of pictures approximately half a second apart. I figured I could do a bunch of tasteful studies: Exurban Grass Mushroom Widow with Child(ren)

What I discovered after about forty of these is that Edward and I are ready for a Coke commercial and Caroline finds us both appalling.

Observe:

Yeah. I am wearing panda ears. It's a long story. Actually, it isn't. I thought the postpartum regrowth hair fuzz was so ugly in the first few pictures that I decided to hide it with a daring accessory. Did it work?

Here we have me (hair by Elmers+tap water; well "hair paste") and Eddybear all aboard the SS Superfun while Cricket attempts to dive off the stern.

And that is how I spent my weekend.

PS Speaking of Coke commericials I have finally recovered from the bitter bitter disappointment of the Veronica Mars ending (you warned me. I know. but still) and am ready to learn to love again. We just started season one of Mad Men from Netflix and I have to ask: do ANY of these people become REMOTELY likable at some point? Because as of episode two Steve has started drinking Scotch and I am dying for a cigarette and we both find them all so unpleasant that we are kinda hoping the Cuban missile crisis goes the other way this time.

PPS I saw my new primary care physician last week. He went over the neurology stuff (MRI and MRA, ANA, et cetera, et cetera) and ruled out lupus, MS, Lyme's and a brain tumor. He said it sounds like I get weird migraines and is sending me back to the neurologist in case there is anything more esoteric out there that he might have missed.

"Esoteric?" I asked.

"Yep," he said.

Then he flicked the side of my face, hard, with his finger and when I jumped he congratulated me on the fact that my cheek seems to be feeling better. I really liked him.

PPPS Thirty three minutes. I cheated.

PPPPS I just figured out how to make these things look shorter. I kill me.

Comments

[Elaine at Lipstickdaily]

Dude . . . totally do the V. When you convince your husband, let me know how you did it.

[Elsha]

No need to limit the writing time; your posts always have an excellent conversational flow. I don't have any input about IUDs having never had one, but I laughed about the disembodied voice in the middle of the night. I have woken up on a couple occasions to a disembodied voice singing "rainbows are red, rainbows are blue..." that will really throw you off at 2 am.

[Brainy girl]

OK, my Mirena story, very quickly. Had the sucker put in, was very psyched with concept of minimal periods. Never had a problem in that department before, but was hoping to really minimize periods altogether. Within a day, I realized my cramping etc. was getting worse, and was rapidly turning into stabbing pains that were dropping me to the floor. I couldn't feel the strings. Went to get checked first thing in a.m. (this is within 48 hrs of insertion), doctor couldn't find strings. Sent to hospital for ultrasound - they cannot find the device anywhere in my uterus. Sent to x-ray, where Mirena is discovered floating around my abdominal cavity, merrily poking into vital organs. Was in surgery by the next morning, to remove the damn thing. Doctor later showed me a photo of a perfect T-shaped hole in my uterus where it perforated. Very sad to conclude that it's back to the pill for me until I can get DH to get vasectomy... sigh.

[Chris]

Bets is an ultrafruitcake, but oh how very liberating all that alcohol and nicotine and tule must have.

[Chris]

been.

[Elise]

Why don't you just put the pieces of the book back together with clear packing tape?

[Shawna]

I've always thought of IUDs as so 70s. Who knew they were still so popular? I'm still not tempted though.

And water with paintbrushes on a surface that goes dark when wet entertains for awhile outside if your mosquitoes haven't arrived full-force yet. Also, bubbles are a big hit with our toddler, though her younger brother would just try to drink the bubble liquid (aka, dishsoap and water.)

[Pictou]

Mad Men gets addictive. Peggy is likable, Betty needs a "mother's little helper," and at some point the buxom red head actually gets a little sympathetic. Don Draper is still hot regardless of how much screwing around he does. Where's the sign up list to be unfaithful with Don? 'Cause I'd like to be on it.

[jen]

I always look forward to your posts because of the length. It is like reading a chapter from a good novel.

I have a love/hate thing with my Mirena. I love that I don't have to worry about taking a pill. I love that my period is very very light (liners only so maybe you can't call it a period). HOWEVER, I hate that the period/spotting just randomly shows up. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Anytime of day, I have to be prepared. I am still breastfeeding so I hope when I wean it will go away and/or become more predictable. I will give it that the spotting has become fewer days and further between (after 6 mos) so maybe it is like a good wine. Who knows. I'm giving it a full year before I decide how annoying it is and weigh the costs/benefits.

[beth]

I love love love the mirena!!! Have had it over 2.5 years now and I think I've had maybe 2 periods that I would call periods since then. Instead of a box (bag) of kotex a month, it's a bag um every two years. :) Prior to the kiddo, periods were horrible. Horrible cramps, horrible bleeding, just nastiness on so many levels. Post Mirena? I have totally forgotten that women do have periods! (well, 99% forgotten!)

I went for the low-hormonal because I liked what I read about it opposed to the Paraguard. I was slightly concerned because even on the lowest dose pill I can just go crazy, but with Mirena- no such reaction.

Love it love it love it!

[katie]

"I don't care what you do after bedtime just as long as I don't have to be personally involved"

we have the same rule in our house!

and we also have a copy of goodnight gorilla held together with a lot of elmers glue and clear packing tape. it's been repaired multiple times b/c i'm too cheap to spring for a new copy. i figure if and when we have fictional child #2, that kid can get a fresh copy, i'm not wasting the $7 in the meantime. we used to call our daughter the termite as she had a habit of eating her books. you wouldn't believe the number of books we have with toddler sized mouth pieces missing!

[Denise]

No IUD experience here, but I love "Mad Men"! No, they don't become that much more likeable (a little bit), but it's kind of refreshing, actually. And the clothes! And the misogyny! It makes you realize how far we've come and how far we still need to go.

[Julia]

I gave up on Mad Men after the first disc because I just couldn't like anyone. The impression I get from my friends is that you're supposed to love the show despite hating everyone. I couldn't be bothered.

But since you are ready to love again:

Party Down - Rob Thomas and two other Veronica Mars writers, plus Paul Rudd (and who doesn't love Paul Rudd?) created this show and filled it with VM alums. It's about cater waiters in LA who want to be actors or writers or whatever. It takes a couple of episodes to really get into but by the fourth or fifth I was ready to declare it the best comedy on TV. You can watch it instantly on Netflix watch now, but it's not on DVD yet. Final episode this season airs Friday night (will be available on Netflix on Saturday) and it's renewed for a second season.

Breaking Bad - Sounds like the most depressing show ever but actually really really amazingly good. 50-year-old high school chemistry teacher finds out he's dying of lung cancer so he decides to start cooking meth. Trust me. It's great. (First season is on DVD, second is not over yet and the DVD probably won't be out for close to a year.) (Also, already renewed for a third season.)

[Kara]

I'm obviously too lazy to actually read the comments, so I'll just leave it as a question: I cannot possibly be your only reader who says "don't be embarrassed! the longer the better! I love your stories!" can I? Well, if I am, then there it is--I'm sure I'm not the only one *thinking* it.

[S]

I just turned 44 and I have had my mirena for just over a year.
I thought the insertion was a little painful, but nothing that I couldn't handle.
I had on and off cramps for a couple of months and have not had a full period since they inserted it. Some spotting here and there, but like someone else said..nothing that a pantyliner can't control.
I do like it. At my age they were really thrilled with giving me any other form of Birth control, so I figured I would give it a shot.
I am happy that I did.

[S]

that should have read "they were NOT really thrilled with giving me any other form of birth control".
gah.. sorry.

[Mrs. Gregorton]

Have you tried mascara in your hair? Pro: it works to keep down the weird fly aways when nothing else will. Con: I have mascara in my hair.

[NiniB]

This site has the board book version for $6.99:
http://www.psychobabyonline.com/site/psychobaby/productdetail.exc?cmd=view_prod&isApp=true&page=1&co_id=533&item_id=51321&prod_id=1524

Cute book!

[Mary]

I am on my second Mirena, year seven, and I love it. I am in my late 40s and before I had the Mirena put in, my periods were getting so heavy I was having accidents in public. Ugh. Now I go months with no period at all. I am in heaven. I found the actual insertion to be no worse than a PAP smear, with very light cramping the night after. When they took out the old one and put in the new, it was the same. Almost a non event. I can't say enough good things about Mirena. The pills make me sick, and at my age I probably shouldn't be taking them anyway. And I love not having to worry about a period.

[NiniB]

Never mind the $6.99 deal - it's out of stock. Sorry.

[april]

No, everyone on Mad Men remains a total jerk!

[Diana]

Good Lord, ebay must have seen us coming! Why is a board book for sale for $73???

Let me just say that I empathize with Caroline's rather expensive taste in books...

[Jeanie]

I've had a paraguard for 7 years, and really have no complaints. I had an increase in spotting and heavier periods the first 6 months to a year but since then my periods have been normal no cramping anymore either. Just hang in there with it.

[Jk]

Mirena is awesome! No periods.... errr not more than a pantyliner at most for a couple of days, but usually nothing. Right after insertion I bled for quite a while, but after that stopped (2-3 weeks) it became my new BFF. No other side effects!

The Nuva-Ring is NOT good for women over 35. It ups the risk of stroke about 15-20%. If you have migraines or other neurological things going on, like oh, say, numbness, then don't do it!

[Ruth]

Do you still have all the pieces of the alien book? If so, maybe Staples (or Kinkos, or whatever is closest) could bind it for you.

[Genevieve]

Looks like abebooks has it here (ISBN is for board book, but it'd be worth an email to the seller to confirm that):

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1315468992&searchurl=ds%3D5%26kn%3D0786807598%26n%3D200000237%26ph%3D2%26prl%3D5%26sby%3Dsub%26sortby%3D2

[Ewokmama]

Your comment about Mad Men totally cracked me up. The man and I watched both seasons and ate it up even though NONE of the characters are likable...at least in the traditional way. I think we just love it because of the amazing acting. Keep watching. You won't be able to give it up after a few more episodes.

[Kate]

I have the Mirena and love everything about except for the fact that I seem to have non stop spotting. Very light but there nevertheless. And that is after 18 months.

[Anna]

Mirena here, first inserted one year PP (5 years ago), second one now in since a few months. Even though my husband had the big V few months ago, I don't want the thing out yet. Had 6 months of bleeding and cramping on and off after first insertion, but LOVE it now! No more cramping or bleeding - just spotting rarely when whiping. PMS is still there though.

One thing is: I am supposed to feel the threads inside - but I never have.

[Madeleine]

I had a Paraguard (inserted in 1999) for 7 years (had it removed when I was ready for my first baby - took 9 months to conceive) and although I bled heavily, I was happy with it compared to other birth control that made me grumpy and have sore boobs. After son arrived, I had a Mirena inserted (because I was living in Australia by then and the Mirena costs $22 here compared with $500 for the Paraguard). I did not have a period at all with the Mirena and kept breastfeeding my son so that was all great. I had the Mirena out and conceived within 6 weeks. Not sure if the heavy bleeding somehow reduced my fertility after the Paraguard - I was anaemic while on it. After the Mirena came out I was not anaemic and bub #2 is currently 9 weeks in the oven (ie I feel like puking). I keep recalling your advice - if you know it is going to happen, just drink some water so it is less uncomfortable... ugh.

[katie]

The secretary (played by former West Wing daughter) is very likeable, if a little naive. Don becomes more complex, and stays excessively good looking, perhaps not precisely likeable but definitely sympathetic in a bizarre way.

I started watching Revolution Road on a plane recently but fell asleep. I thought it would be similar but in fact am glad I didn't watch the end as it was apparently truly horrific for those of my type of nervous disposition.

Please, please watch Lie To Me as I love it and no-one else seems to know about it.

[AndyL]

Delurking to say I have an IUD (don't know which one...), hormone free, and the first six to eight months were very very heavy periods. Soaking through a super plus sized tampon WITH a full sized pad in an hour and a half, several times a day, for at least two days.

They wouldn't give me the hormone kind of IUD (or the nuva ring like I wanted) because my blood pressure was too high. Bah. And humbug.

After that, though, back to normal periods and no pain or cramps. I've had it in for a few years now, and I'm glad I waited out the "settling in" phase.

Then-boyfriend/now-fiance wasn't going to do the vasectomy thing, no way, no how, so this was the option, like it or not. Glad I like it, is all I can say.

[TeacherMommy]

Mirena has been great. I was dubious the first few months--those extended periods, some cramping, etc.--but then I turned out to be one of the very lucky 20% who has NO PERIODS WHATSOEVER with it! I've been period-free for a year and a half now and haven't had to be pregnant or breastfeeding to achieve such a state of bliss. Once in a while I get just a little bit of light brownish spotting (you're welcome), but overall it's been wonderful.

People I've talked to who aren't in the lucky 20% still say it's a ton better--very light, very short periods with very little cramping. And despite the low-level hormones (I'm not sure if Paraguard has that or not), I'm not being affected mood-wise the way I was on the pill.

So it's possible that you're just in the early stages and this too will pass.

Good luck on the book. I have no advice to offer. However, I'm withyou on letting the kidlets take whatever to bed. I occasionally sneak in later at night and remove the objects with the sharper, pointier edges. And periodically I must root through the bedclothes to locate the ten thousand books that have migrated from the bookshelf to the sheets. Good times.

[Cookie]

For the book, BN.com has them used for way too much, but differentiates between three versions, and clearly identifies the board book from the hardcover with the ISBN.I second half.com as a purchase point.

Nick (who is 14 months)is just now starting to demand story time. He will bring a book over to me and point at it and say "mi" (mine) and offer it to me. When I sit down he will walk over and plop down in my lap for me to read, occasionally flipping back to other pages. His current favorite is Biscuit's Pet and Play Easter, especially the "grass".

I'm glad you like your new doctor better, I'm still searching for a primary care, since I've mainly used my OB/GYN and urgent care. I'm also really glad that the doctor doesn't think you have lupus or anything else serious.

Thanks for the longer post, I love reading your Blog. And extra thanks for the pictures, you look lovely and your babies are extremely cute.

[Melissa]

wonderful post! delightful pictures!

Can you re-assemble the book with clear packing tape and elmer's glue-all? Looks like you have some other good options too.

[carosgram]

To find out of print books I recommend two sites - alibris.com and powells.com Good luck!

[Kelly]

I had the Mirena, inserted Oct 07, removed Feb 09 (not soon enough). When it was inserted it didn't hurt much but I bled, non-stop (and fairly heavily) for 3 months. That eased off, slowly, until at 10m post-insertion when I started to have "normal" periods (very light spotting, no cramps). Lovely. However the hormones messed with me something aweful. I was a total bitch, I couldn't sleep through the night, I had acne, I started growing excess facial hair, I gained loads of weight (back to term-pregnancy weight) I was tired all.the.time and I had zero sex drive (very unusual for me). I was completely miserable.

Since removal I've been on the pill again (we're giving that a year then Hubby is going in for the snip) and things are improving. I'm more emotionally stable, I can sleep, the acne is gone, the hair is going, the weight is going (slowly). I know lots of women have good experiences with Mirena and preach to the world it's wonders and I wish I'd been one of those but it was horrid and I'll never do that again!

[Sarah]

Used on Amazon?
http://www.amazon.com/Hush-Little-Alien-Daniel-Kirk/dp/0786807598/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242737896&sr=8-1

[Gin]

1. I have had a Mirena IUD since...2002? I have no periods, no cramping, no...nothing. I. love. it. However, I have never had children and the insertion? and later removal? and then insertion again? (my model needed replaced after 5 years) well, let's just say that I was gripping the examination table with both hands sure had mistaken my request with "rip out my female innards"

2. And Mad Men. THANK GOD FOR YOU. Everyone in my office was cajoling me to watch it and I did. I came back into work and said, "Well, it's very masculine. And. I really don't *care* for anyone. And GODDAMNIT if I don't wish I could have a bar in my office." So, yeah. You aren't alone.

[jen]

delurking to say NUVA RING!

[anna]

I'm adding my data! I have an IUD (uh, of some type. Not hormonal. I know that much. A copper IUD?) - insertion didn't hurt one bit, but I also have a high pain threshold, & periods have been just the same as before, which is to say on the light side. But I have only had two postpartum periods so far so perhaps they will change as they get more frequent? Anyway, so far I love my IUD.

[Alice]

I'm also on my second Mirena and it's the best thing since sliced bread. No cramps, no periods, no unsightly stains... wonderful. I'm only sorry that I can't tell all my friends to get one (those who have not yet reproduced) since apparently they only give it to you if you've had a pregnancy. I think they should be free for every woman in the entire world, which would solve overpopulation and world hunger at a stroke. And no, they don't pay me to say this. Just... go get yourself one! :-)

[cindy w]

I have the Mirena IUD. I like the fact that I have no period whatsoever with it (I have maybe one super-light spotting day a month, that's it). But sex is decidedly painful, and my husband says it feels like there's a plastic army guy up there poking at him with a tiny bayonet. So there's that.

[T]

Hardcover Hush, Little Alien books at BooksPrice.com:

http://www.booksprice.com/comparePrice.do?l=y&searchType=compare&inputData=0786824697

[Kelly]

Have you heard of Paperbackswap.com? They have your book, in an 'unknown binding.' Might be worth joining to find out...

http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780439176767-Hush+Little+Alien

[Marla]

You wanted IUD stories - I am on my second Paraguard and I love love love them. I can't use anything that involves hormones. First IUD was great, but then I had it removed when we were ready for another baby. I got pregnant the following week. I got another Paraguard after that baby's birth and have had the same great experience: only one month of cramping/heavier than normal bleeding, then... nothing. No cramping, maybe one "heavy" day. That's it. Love it.

[Kirsten]

I've never had an IUD, but I hope you don't mind if I chime in for support of the vasectomy. My husband had one two years ago (while I was still on maternity leave with our LAST child!), and he never had any discomfort (aside from the embarrassment of having the physician tape his penis to the side so it would be out of the way!). He took maybe one of the pain pills he was prescribed after, then I had to force him to stay on the couch for the requisite 24 hours. I cannot overstate how minor this surgery was for our family, and what a great method of birth control it has been for ME! No BCP, no IUD, no condoms = excellent. His two best friends ran out and got vasectomies too since then, and neither of them had any trouble either. Good luck to you! (I love your epic posts)

[Kim]

I gave the Paragard two years. There was almost no days where I wasn't bleeding in some way. Many times very light. My husband and I just got used to a little bleeding during sex because seriously if we waited we have never done it. (sorry if TMI). Also there was something weird about the string on mine that my husband found extremely uncomfortable, irritating (painful?). He said it was scratchy and it completely eliminated several position options from the repetoire if you know what I mean. Anyway. Periods were a bit odd, sometimes extraordinarily heavy and long and sometimes just one or two days. But always heavy. Two years, was long enough. Husband got a vasectomy. No regrets at all.

[Mitzi]

I love the pictures. I bet one day they will be some of your favorite ones to look back on. I love little sessions like that. Thanks for sharing them.

[chanzi]

I've been using Paraguard for I think around 8 months now. I've had stronger cramping with it in, but still manageable and fine with ibuprofen, and it's much better now than in the first 4-5 months. At the beginning I would get scared because the cramping would start before my period, when I wasn't quite prepared for it, and it worried me that something is wrong! Before Paraguard I had light periods that lasted for 5 days. Now they're heavier (just normal instead of light) and last for 7. Obviously I'd prefer the lighter/shorter ones with a slightly less cramping, but I'm generally happy with Paraguard and plan on using it post-kids at some point too.

On a related note, if anyone has thought about trying a menstrual cup (or even if you haven't) I would definitely encourage it. I got a diva cup two years ago and I couldn't imagine ever going back to pads or tampons now. There are multiple brands and you can read about them elsewhere so I'll spare you the details, but I really do like it so much better.