Reagan's Barbie Birthday

This picture was taken just moments before guests arrived to Reagan's 4th birthday party. The party was in full Barbie theme, from the Barbie doll cake (made by Mama) to the pin-the-earrings-on-Barbie game we played. Even many of the gifts had a Barbie theme. All things considered, the party was a success. However, it was not without its drama.

Just after gifts were opened and hugs were given, as we were preparing to sing "Happy Birthday" and watch Reagan blow out her candles, the birthday girl started projectile vomiting in the kitchen...all over her cute Barbie ensemble that Mama had ordered online especially for the occasion. (And also all over the hardwood floors, not that it matters...much.) Daddy had to whisk Reagan upstairs and change her clothes (and his) while Mama ushered curious kids from the kitchen and helped Uncle Jason who had started cleaning up the mess--and, boy, was it a big one!

Believe it or not, the birthday girl emerged minutes later looking pretty well. We went ahead with the cake cutting (which hurt Mama's feelings a little, since she had spent so much time on the cake!), but Reagan just had a little ice cream. Afterward, everyone played outside in the "bouncy room" and seemed to be none the worse for the day's events.

Reagan did get sick a couple of more times after everyone left, so we now know it wasn't just nerves but rather a stomach bug. She still wasn't eating much on Sunday, but today (Monday) she woke up and asked for pancakes, and she seems to be just fine.

Her *real* birthday is tomorrow, and we have a fun day planned. We'll visit Nashville Shores, and when Daddy gets home we'll go to Chuck E. Cheese's. Finally, we'll go to the pet store where Reagan gets to pick out two fish for her new aquarium.

My Masterpiece

Ok, so it's not a work of art or anything, but this just may be the best cake I've ever done. This one actually hurt a little when I cut into it. It was for Reagan's 4th birthday party on Saturday. The Barbie-themed party was quite eventful (you can read about it on Reagan's blog at http://www.reagangibbs.blogspot.com/). Let's just say that we're praying that no one contracted the stomach bug that we now know Reagan has.

Little Fishy

Reagan has been in swimming lessons for the last two weeks. She is in an introductory class that focuses on getting children over their fears and teaches basic skills like kicking, blowing bubbles, and floating on your back. The class is for kids under four, so Reagan is the oldest kid in the class (missing the four-year-old class by only a week or so); thus, she is the star pupil. Showing absolutely no fear, Reagan completes every task Mr. David asks of her without question.

Last week, the kids were jumping in from the side of the pool one by one. Mr. David held their hands and kept them from going underwater, so they could get used to the idea of jumping in slowly. I didn't see what happened, but I think Reagan must have slipped while getting back out of the water, because she ended up going under. After class, she came rushing back to me and proudly proclaimed, "I was so brave! I went under the water!"

All Is Well, Finally

We've had another one of those months where the girls take turns being sick. For some reason they always seem to come after a well-visit to the doctor. Coincidence? Or, are my children picking up little germies at the office? Guess we'll never know.

It turns out that Presley had an enterovirus, which is basically just a general catagory of viruses that can have any number of symptoms. Hers happened to be a persistent rash after a few days of fever. By the time the rash appears, the patient has already spread it to all her friends and family.

Then, the night after her big performance for Shirley Temple camp (read all about it at http://www.reagangibbs.blogspot.com/), Reagan started breaking out in hives. I gave her Benadryl and sent her to bed. But in the morning, they were even worse. After a call to a triage nurse (because it was the weekend), we were giving her Benadryl every four hours and adopting the "wait and see" approach. In the mean time, she attended a rehearsal for church, an outdoor picnic, her cousin's dance recital, and even sang in church Sunday morning, all with red splotches covering her body. It's now Monday morning, and they are almost gone. There are still a few stubborn spots hanging on, but I would consider her "well"--more or less.

Hopefully we can stay out of the doctor's office for a while, at least until Presley's 15-month well visit!

Curly Top

Reagan just completed a week-long Shirley Temple song & dance camp. The culmination of the week was a performance at Brighton Gardens, an assisted living facility. Nine girls, ages 3 to 5, presented a thirty-minute show of nine choreographed songs, along with some basic tumbling. Each number had its own costumes and props. We were amazed that Ms. Donna, the teacher, could pull together such a show in less than five days!

Reagan is now obsessed with having the perfect Shirley Temple curls, and would wear rollers in her hair every night if Mama would agree. She also breaks into song (usually "Good Ship Lollipop" or "Baby, Take a Bow") on a regular basis. She starts swimming lessons in a few weeks, so she'll likely move on to a new obsession then.