A glimps of The Fourstar family 2008 year!

Wow, I can't believe in less than a month and a half it will already be 2009. What a year our family has had. I should have known what kind of year we were going to have when between Steve and I there were Dr appointments after Dr appointments, and well this is exactly how we are finishing off the year! I will get into all of that in just a few! As far as the rest of the family goes, they have been doing well and keeping active in sports.

Keona celebrated her 3rd birthday at the end of June. It was the most elegant princes ball any 3 year old could ask for. Keona is a lil diva. I have tried and tried to fight against that, but truly I think its in the female gene on the Fourstar side! She loves to play dress up and loves her big sister Brittney's high heals. She is very much still a daddy's girl. I love watching the two of them together. She knows exactly how to play daddy and get what she wants from him. He's such a softy.

Ocean started off the year with a tonsillectomy, because she had one too many visits to the Dr for unexplained fever and strep symptoms, so He thought it would be best to refer her to an ENT and have them taken out. In the spring Ocean & Marie both played softball on the same team, that I coached, and they took 1st place in for the whole season. This was Ocean's first year playing softball and she really came a long way from the start of the season. She played centre field (one of mom's old positions). Ocean celebrated her 8th birthday this year, and had an American Idol theme. Her and her 8 lil friends sang there hearts out on our karaoke machine (yes the migraine meds were very close by). Ocean is in second grade this year, and has been moved to extended studies for math and reading. She is reading at a 4th grade level. With her being in the extended studies classes, she will be challenged a little more and will get to do some more fun, exciting, advanced things at her own pace, just so she doesnt lose interest. Ocean has been blessed with a very sweet Christian teacher that I couldn't be more happy with. Her teachers words to describe her were... "Ocean is the light of the class, she shows up every morning with a huge smile on her face, she is never unhappy, she is our lil social butterfly, she is always willing to lend a helping hand to her friends and even me." Hearing those words sure made me proud, and all teary! Ocean really does look forward to going to school, she loves it. She also loves the fact that I come in and volunteer in her class room every Wednesday for a few hours.

Like mentioned Marie & Ocean played softball in the spring. Marie was the star pitcher and pitched the whole championship game. When she wasn't pitching she played short (another one of mom's positions). I was soo proud of her she had to pitch a whole game in about 105* weather and listen to mom nag at her from the bench, she was beyond exhausted. She most recently celebrated her 11th birthday, and her theme was a spa evening with her friends. It was a total hit, her and her friends had SO much fun. Honestly I was really struggling with what kind of theme to do for a bunch of pre-teens, and thought the spa thing might be a little too much for them, but it went of with fireworks. Right now she is waiting for Volleyball season to start. I think she is going to see how that goes and put basketball on the back burner this year.

Tyler has had a pretty mellow year. He started the year playing basketball for school and a traveling team. Then surprised us all and joined the school track team and did very well at that! He decided that he wasn't going to play football this year for the freshman team and just concentrate on basketball. He too has just recently celebrated a birthday, his 15th to be exact. He is now old enough to start drivers ed, but has made a mature decision and decided to wait to do it after his sports are over, so that hes not trying to juggle too many things at once. Stay tuned for reports on that.

Like mentioned earlier I started my year off with Dr apts after Dr apts. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at the beginning of the year, just when I thought I had things under control I was attacked with these unexplained and unexpected periods of pains that I can only compare to labour pains. After a few months of dealing with that I finally got into my OB and found out that I had a couple ovarian cysts. So I was scheduled for surgery and had them removed along with a little bit of endrimetriosis. Then when that was all said and done, I went in for a routine dental appointment and had an x-ray done. The dentist was not happy with what he saw on the film and wanted to redo it. So after a second film was taken he still wasn't happy. He had explained to me that he was seeing what appeared to be a large mass in my sinus, and referd me to an ENT. After visiting with the ENT and having an MRI taken, he too was not too happy about the results and mentioned that I had a cyst in my left sinus that was taking up the whole sinus, I also had a smaller one on the right side, as well I had a huge bone spur that was blocking my whole left nasal passage and was starting to push things out of the way. SO again I was scheduled for surgery, and had the cysts removed as well as my bone spur removed. I have to say, since having both of those surgeries pretty much back to back, I have had no normalcy in my live, which is really catching up to me. I don't do well with change and I like to have my routine.

Steve started his year with a lil bit of a struggle as well. Trying to get his pain meds under control to help relieve his back pain. He too had many many visits to the Dr for acupuncture or epidurals to help relieve his pain. He attempted fires this summer with his pain and had a very hard time, but he stuck it through a couple just for the sake of supporting the family. Once fires were over he decide it was time to go through and have the surgery, so just a few days ago he did just that! He was in hospital for only 2 days and is home now working hard at doing what is required to a safe speedy recovery!

Glorified computer nerd in the making

I think it's a little ridiculous when my 3 year old child knows how to navigate her way around NickJr.com, and not only navigate her way around the website, but navigate a laptop with a touch pad. It also doesn't help any that my loving husband is a glorified computer nerd and contributes to this now, "new problem" we have.

Workin overtime...

The past two days, Keona has had the opportunity to go and join Daddy at the office. Today she couldnt take working right through, she needed a break. I have yet to get stright if she was just flat out tired from being slaved or if she couldnt take the chaos of Daddy's unorganized office!

Almond, white chocolate & pumpkin cheesecake

Fall is my most favorite season and time of the year. The leaves are changing, and the weather perfectly not too cold, but not too hot. Fall is the best time of year to see nature at its best. Fall reminds me of family time well spent as a child.



If you know me you know I enjoy cooking, especially cooking those rather large meals, like Thanksgiving dinner, but something about fall brings out another side of me that I really don't care to do too much of any other time..... Baking. Well today I got into one of those moods, even though I wasnt feeling quite up to par.




I came across this recipe on FamilyFun.com, and thought it sounded rather gross, as well as very intriguing. I saved it to my computer and thought I would try it when I got into one of my "baking" moods. My family is always up to trying something new, and they really love dessert. I myself am not so much a fan of pumpkin pie, or pumpkin anything at that. However I took one for the team and made this up, being as I know the others like pumpkin. I did try a little of it and it turned out rather nicely. Pumpkin cheesecake is not so bad!

Budget, Budget, Budget....

For some time now we have really been working on our "budget", for those of you that do the "budget" thing, you know its a chore in itself, and well if your anything like me your always trying to find ways to save money or reduce costs some how.

About two years ago now, Steve and I went through the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class that our church offered. Every now and again we also like to tune into his radio talk show, and pick up a few new "budgeting" tricks. A few months back we were tuning in and he had mentioned this site that plans your meals and your grocery list according to your needs or wants and store preferences, AND ITS SUPPOSE TO SAVE MONEY.

Not only do I like to cook but my family does like variety, so we signed up, being that it is only $15 every three months, which works out to be $1.25 a week. I couldn't be any happier with this choice. I DON'T HAVE TO PLAN MENUS ANYMORE! A chore that would normally take me 2 hours, now takes me a few clicks of the mouse and VOILA there it is, saved to my computer and ready for me to print at anytime.

I have yet to come across a meal that my family does not like, and the prep time for them are 15 minutes max. That's for a "regular" meal. They send variety, such as, crock pot meals, easy meals, in a hurry meals and regular meals. They are all full course meals to boot.

Most of you know that when I do groceries I shop for about 8, but always have to buy more because of the hungry, hungry kiddos I have to feed. Ever since following this new meal plan we have been under budget every time and that includes buying "non grocery" items. Dave wasn't lying.

So if you have not yet had a chance to check it out, I suggest you do. If you would like to try it before paying for it, email me or send me a message and I will be more than happy to send you some of the menus that we have already used.

And its still snowing.......

This is more snow than I wanted to wake to this morning.
Lucky Steve had to usher and got to go out for an adventure in this garbage.

Still snowing....

I can't believe there is this much snow for October already, and the leaves are not even finished let alone barely started to turn colour!

Gaberiel's Story

Gaberiel Daniel Riley, was born on the 18th day of July 2008, to Daniel and Jennifer Riley at 11:11am in London at the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario. Mom had attended a regular scheduled appointment and a simple rise in her blood pressure had the doctor admitting her to hospital. Jennifer laboured an amazing 11 plus hours without any form of drugs. Jennifer always maintained that her parents insisted that she not use drugs. I think her dad tried to explain the difference between good drugs and bad drugs but after all was said and done she was a hero to many. Gaberiel weighed an astounding 9lbs, 1ounce and the nurses seemed surprised. Laughter filled the room as it was explained that his older sister Danielle weighed in at 10lbs, 2 ounces and his brother Michael weighed in at 7lbs, 10ounces so baby Gaberiel landed right in the middle of his siblings. It was explained that they were all little compared to their father who weighed in over 12lbs when he was born at Victoria Hospital on south street in London. The doctor's cut the cord and he basically rolled out onto the floor walked out onto South Street and went for an icecream.

In the few moments after Gaberiel was born dad cut the cord and after he was wrapped he was placed on mom's chest. Gaberiel seemed congested and mom was immediately concerned about his coloring. Gaberiel was taken to a heat table and cleaned up for his initial examination. During his examination he was suctioned for an extensive period of time and they joked he swollowed a small lake. After 40 minutes of still extracting fluid from his lungs they called for another team of doctors and indicated they could hear a heart murmur. Gaberiel was rushed to the Pedatric Critical Care Unit where Daniel and Jennifer were told by doctors that they couldn't guarntee that Gaberiel would make it through the night. It was believed that Gaberiel may have Menigitis and be needing a spinal tap. On entering the Unit Gaberiel was hooked up to an ECG and on lung support and oxygen as he lay in an incubator. The nurse noted that his blood pressure leveled out and that he stablized when he heard his parents. The nurse furthered to explain that in his almost 30 years of nursing, he knew that no medicine of this day could save their son's life and that through experience he suggested that they talk to him and that he couldn't guarntee it but he stated he would be recovering by morning. Mom and Dad sat vigilant with Gaberiel through the night and talked to him all about Team Riley and the things we do as a family and how much they would like to take him to Disneyland. (Its rumoured that a lot of magical things take place there).

Early the next morning tired and still crying with the belief their baby was dying. Daniel and Jennifer were amazed that Gaberiel began to breathe on his own and was removed from the oxygen and moved to the pedatric care unit on the 7th floor. Gaberiel was subjected to an echocardiogram of his heart and several blood and sugar tests. The early diagnosis was an enlarged heart called by medical name Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and it was believed that mom may have undiagnosed diabetes. Not the case. After meeting doctors and several blood tests later it was determined that the doctors really didn't know what was causing this condition. Gaberiel remained in hospital for 6 days following his birth and after being roomed with other infants born with illicit drug addictions and constant crying mom demanded a meeting with doctors.

Gaberiel's parents had watched as the heart monitors went off and there were delays in response to the crib sides and believed they could better care for their child at home. Gaberiel at this point was on Propanol and his mom and dad providing his care. Gaberiel was discharged and was to follow up in one months time.

Gaberiel was taken to Childrens Hospital in London and after an ECHO examination of his heart it was determined that doctors in London knew that they did not know the cause and that his heart was still growing. An appointment was made at Sick Kids in Toronto and it was indicated that they would operate and remove the muscle around the lower portion of his heart.

On the 26th day of August 2008 Gaberiel was brought to Sick Kids in Toronto and it was a matter of 4 hours before Dr. Benson indicated that there was no reasonable possibility that they could successfully operate and remove muscle from Gaberiel's heart and that it would likely grow back if they could not determine what was causing it to grow. Doctors could only speculate and ordered all his tests from London Hospital and began his own work ups and testing. It was determined that Gaberiel's condition was a terminal illness and the only means to give him a reasonable chance at life was through a heart transplant.

On the 8th day of September, at approximatly 1AM, Gaberiel revieced his new lease on life. Gaberiel came out of surgery that morning very stable and his condition very, very promising. Although Gaberiel came out of surgery stable, the Dr's re-visited the risks and various things Mom and Dad needed to watch... much to everyones amazement, he was breathing with a respirator but not a heart and lung pump (life support).

At 3pm that day they met with the Surgical Team who advised them that Gaberiel was rejecting the heart and that after moving dosages of medications they were unable to get the heart to correct it's self and were facing the difficult task of having to start the life support. They indicated they needed to open his chest cavity again and begin the heart and lung pumps to regulate his heart rate with the assistance of a pace maker. The life support system is used to give his heart a rest and to give them an opportunity to work on the heart. The chest cavity is left open to assist with the swelling of the heart so that proper drainage could occur. They indicate that they would give the heart anti-rejection drugs to possibly correct the problem. They indicate that over the next 4-5 days they will medicate the heart and slowly re-introduce the heart to its functional responsibility to the body and gradually turn down the life support until the heart can operate on its own again. They indicate that this is not uncommon to transplants as initially the heart gets going and starts doing an excellent function and then eventually produces antibodies that begin to reject the donor heart.

After two days on support, Dan and Jen arrived at the hospital and found that the doctors had decided to take Gaberiel off of Ecmo a day early. What a wonderful thing to hear. He is now off the support and his first set of blood work is good. He of course is still very sick and this will be touch and go, minute by minute. But for now, his chest is still open so if something goes for the worse it will be easier to hook the ecmo back up. The doctors were genuinely amazed at his progress as he has taken on the heart, but he's still on the ventilator. They state that the heart muscle is squeezing through the blood to his body under Gaberiel's own power - unassisted. The heart rate is 140 and normal for a little boy. His previous heart rate was 120. The ventilator is to assist Gaberiel's lungs so they can slowly reduce some medications and at this point they are astound at the rate he is taking it on again but are going to be cautious and go at a medical pace.

Mom and Dad were advised not to get to far ahead of themselves, being as he is a very long way from the finish line. Think of it as being lap 2 out of 20.

On the 11th day of September, the transplant doctors surgically closed his chest. It was expected that within 2 hours Gaberiel may start swelling again and bleeding fluid around the heart. There is a usual pattern that is not uncommon to take 1 step forward and 2 steps back, but that never happened this day. The doctors continue to warn us not to get to far ahead as things tend to change very quickly and without warning. To this point they are a little surprised at him.

The next step is to start reducing the muscle relaxants and to see Gaberiel start to wake up. He will still be on some pretty serious drugs but by the end of the day they want to see how the heart reacts to taking on muscle movement and as it takes on more they will slowly turn down the respirator and see how much he will take on. They say that this phase is all controlled by computers and that if theres any signs of the heart tiring that the computer kicks the respirator back up a notch and that takes the work of his lungs and doesn't overload the heart so much. Baby steps.

This only just a part of Baby G's story.

The other half of this is, Gaberiel is not an only child, he has 2 older siblings ages 1 and 2, who have been staying with family in London, a city that is 2.5 hours away from where Mom and Dad are with Baby G. Further more, being as he has had a heart transplant Dan & Jen were advised that they needed to move to Toronto for up to a year after this transplant. The first three months will be daily appointments on demand and then after that, the will have up to 2 apts weekly on demand. At this time finding a place has been very difficult for them. Rent is not lookin cheap and nothing seems close enough. Then to top off the cake Dad works as a police officer on the other side of London and will have to leave Mom and Baby G to head back to support the family.

Dan and Jen have truley been a great inspiration to many, there love for one another and there family is beyond amazing. They have really taken this experiance and became stronger as team Riley.

Please join us all in prayer and pray that God's hand is all over this. As easy as it is said for us, pray that Dan and Jen will wholy give there baby boy up to God and let His healing hands do the work, as well as provide a roof over their heads.

I'M AN AUNTIE, I'M AN AUNTIE!!!

There is nothing better than going through pregnancy and labour, just to be blessed with a beautiful child.

Being as I have been put on a time out from having more babies of my own. I was more than excited to accept the fact that I would be a first time Auntie.


My brother and sister in law just had their first born on Sunday! Madison Lee Saker arrived around 11 Am weighing in at a whole 7 LB 2 oz. Most of us would say that's a perfect sized baby, however there are a few that would say that she was a very small baby!

I cant express how excited I am to be a first time Auntie. I have my ups and downs about it, only because I live about 3,000 miles away from her and seeing her will be all but once a year. However, this auntie likes to shop and I think that part of my "free" money is not going to go to her. After all what kind of Auntie would I be if I didn't spoil her!

I cant wait, only another 11 days and I will be hogging her. I mean holding her! Until then, Austyn will take perfect care in ensuring that she gets all the attention this little princess needs.

Don't mess with her beauty rest, after all every princess needs it!

Where in the world are the men of the house?

I was sharing with Steve that I have found this new time consumer, that was not Facebook, its called blog spot. HAHA! Anyways he had a look see and well now he's feeling a little left out of the pic being as I barely mentioned Tyler and him. He told me that I should blog and tell him where the "studly men" of the house are! SO here is it to you my Love!

My wonderfully hard working hunk of a man has been putting in some sleepless hours to help with wild fires both local and out of state. He was so kind enough to snap this picture of himself on his way out to California, because he didn't want to wake us sleeping princesses.

He was in Northern California for nearly a month, and oh my what a story he had to tell from that. My short and sweet of the story, was that he was in pot central. Marijuana is legal there, you can buy it at the corner store. The forest that they were in they were trying to go in to do a fire line on the opposite side of the fire so that they could control it. Well while they were going in they got stopped by the Mexican Mafia and were told to pack up and get out. Well being as they were threatened they had to pack up and get out and call in the officials. Being as they couldn't get in to do the fire line the fire blew up and well the fools lost their pot anyway! Had they let them do what they were suppose to do they would have still had a pot Field. God works in mysterious ways.

Now hes been gone for about a week to Nye, Mt. I believe it's a controlled burn to settle the Red Lodge fires. I'm not real sure the specifics of this fire, other than its pretty close to us. About a 2 hour drive, but he should be home on Sunday, so there goes our plans to drive and see daddy in action.

Ok enough about him....

Wow how I miss feeding this littlel man.. Hes a good eater and enjoys his food, but what man doesn't. He never fails to take an annoying interest in whats for dinner, and then has a little cheer once he finds out.

Tyler has been visiting with his mom and grandparents since about 2 days after school got out. I know that he did have a trip to Saskatchewan, Canada for a revival. Other than a few very brief conversations online I have not talked to him at all. Ohhh and he went and helped Steve's dad pick choke cherries, to help gather their years supply. He too is suppose to be home on Sunday.

So there you have it folks, just in case you were all wondering where in the world the men of the house were, you can rest easy knowing they have been gone working and playing. While us girls sit at home watching the Olympics eating Bonn bonns..

Banana French Toast

8 slices of raisin bread
2 bananas 1/2 sliced
1 cup of milk
4 oz of cream cheese (soft)

3 eggs
1/3 cup of sugar
3 TB flour
2 Tsp vanilla
powdered sugar (optional)

*Preheat Oven to 350
*Place 4 slices of bread in a single layer on a 9" baking dish
*Top with banana slices & remaining bread
*Blend milk, cream cheese, eggs, sugar, flour & vanilla in a food processor until smooth
*Pour over bread
*Let stand in fridge for 5 mins
*bake 50-55 min. until set & top is toasted
* Let sit 10 min & dust with powdered sugar!

I'm not a fan of french toast and cant stand to make it. I have to be feeling very generous to make it for my family (once a year). I came across this recipe while sitting in the Doctors office. Sounded like a recipe I would want to try. So I tried it today for the princesses. They all said they liked it.

Kjersten said "its good", Ocean said " there's something in here that tastes like metal, but I like it." Metal....Interesting description if I do say so myself. Marie said, "I looooove this", Keona could really care less she just wanted to dip her finger in the syrup and powdered sugar. My personal opinion..... " Gross" French toast is french toast. The middle was soggy. I could have baked it a little longer but nah its Gross!

I would make this more often for my family only because it has a fruit in it and it appears to my eyes to look a little more healthy than the "normal" french toast. That powdered sugar does wonders for the eye.

Our so called "girly time"

Being as all the Fourstar men are gone, us ladies love to take advantage of "girly time", especially when there is nothing but boys for the girls to play with around here.

After our play date at the water park on Tuesday, we asked Karen's daughter, Kjersten to come have some girly time with us, being that she too is surrounded by boys. She is the only girl out of 4. One day turned into two, which is fine by us we love to have added girls when we can!

Karen is really going to kill me for this next part, but let me just say there were no complaints from Kjersten. Well wait only one, but very much unrelated and I totally understand her feelings. She has no desire what so ever for dogs. Big or small. She wants nothing to do with them at all. With all that being said, I hope none of this next part has any effect on Kjersten's coming back!

Today the girls were hot and decided to take a little dip in the near by creek. After that the neighbourhood boys and them found a dead snake & a craw fish that they found entertaining. Trista and Marie were the only two girls to touch the dead snake! The boys wanted so badly to cut the snake and craw fish open to see what they eat. Great intentions boys, but not on my time!

After seeing all that I thought it was a perfect time to pull the girls in to clean up so we could watch movies and eat popcorn, like "girly girls". This is what a girly girl is suppose to look like.

I truly love watching the kids hang out with one another, they are the modern day version of "The Sugar Creek Gang", except I like to call them "The Crooked Creek" gang, being as that is the name of the creek they swim in. If you haven't the movies I really do recommend them.

BTW these are the accomplises

A whole new world, a new fanstastic point of view....

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?

I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride

A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming

A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you
Now I'm in a whole new world with you

Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky

A whole new world
Don't you dare close your eyes
A hundred thousand things to see
Hold your breath - it gets better
I'm like a shooting star
I've come so far
I can't go back to where I used to be

A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue
Every moment red-letter
I'll chase them anywhere
There's time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you

A whole new world
That's where we'll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me

OK that was the first and last time I will ever sing for you....

This is somewhat a whole new world for me, it's a step outside of the Facebook box! I was feeling a little out of the blogging loop, being as I have some how lured a few unexpected friends into the world of Facebook, so thought I should try out their world of blogging.

Let me say now that I am far from a writer and lack a lot of those grammatical skills, so please have mercy on me and forgive me now!

So here's to the world of blogging! Much thanks to Karen (senior blogger), Amy (blogger), & Amber (blogger in training!)