Facebook, August 2012: ‘Funniest moment of the day: Having given him 15 minutes to swim before bedtime (our house has its own pool), we set a timer for the boy. Suddenly the back door flies open…he has decided he needs to poop and is yelling, ‘Stop the clock! Stop the clock!’ So we took our …
Author Archives: Mama Panda Bear
The Rest of the Birth Story
This is the last installment of The Birth Story but it’s a long one. Thank you for sticking with me! So, Kylene didn’t feel any cervix and I wasn’t totally clear about what that meant (not to mention the fact that I was in hard labor and was probably not sure what anything meant!) Hubs …
The Birth Story – Part 3
So I included the picture above for those of you who don’t REALLY want to read the details of a birth story. I thought the fact that The Dude is still covered in vernix and my ‘bits and pieces’ are nearly showing would be a good indicator of exactly how much detail we’re about to …
Halloween is Melancholy for Mama Panda
All these photos are from the year before The Dude was diagnosed with PANDAS. He literally had 7-8 costumes and wore them every day throughout the month of October. He loved Halloween and it made me so happy because I love it too! Halloween is melancholy for me now for a couple of reasons: My first real …
The Birth Story – Part 2
So, we leave Professionals for Women’s Health. I’m sobbing. Hubs is trying to calm me down. I’m convinced that no other doctor is going to be willing to see us and that I’m going to have to come back to these awful people. By the time we get home, I’m in ‘go mode.’ (That’s what …
The Birth Story – Part 1
Yes…all my best stories are long stories. As you know, today is The Dude’s birthday and it has me looking back on one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I hope parents and future parents (whether you are from the PANDAS community or not) will take something from The Dude’s birth story. I’m …
Happy Birthday, Dude!
In less than one hour, The Dude will be 10 years old. I sit here tonight remembering the night he was born and feeling terribly grateful that we’ve made it this far! Might be time to tell that birth story tomorrow! Stay tuned…
Why Mama Panda Bear – Part 4
The Dude with his Grandma. What would we have done if she hadn’t been an Internet sleuth? Facebook, July 2012: Yesterday, trying to get his shorts just right in the face of PANDAS sensitivity, I hear him mumble: ‘Oh my God! What are we DOING?’ Sounded just like me. Ugh… So, yes, as you can …
Why Mama Panda Bear – Part 3
Facebook, June 30, 2012: I feel like I need a week off work just to research my kid’s diagnosis and figure out how to do everything we need to be doing for him! Facebook, July 2012: ‘Need to buy a present for a bday party for one of The Dude’s classmates today. Asked him what …
Onward to Victory!
On a lighter note, this is one of my favorite Dude videos of all time! This is pre-PANDAS. I’m an ND grad and have been brainwashing this kid for years! Columbus is a tough town in which to raise an Irish fan! Make sure you watch to the end for the big finale!
