Yummy Stuff!

Here are two yummy recipes I tried this weekend:

Apple Dip

(thanks Valerie!)

2 8 oz pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
8 oz. Heath toffee bits
Granny Smith apples

In medium bowl, mix cream cheese with sugars. Add vanilla; blend. Sprinkle in toffee bits and stir. Serve with Granny Smith apple slices.

Baked Oatmeal

(thanks Christa!)

2 cups frozen blueberries
2 T lemon juice
18 oz. regular oats
3 large eggs, beaten
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 T cinnamon
4 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 1/ cup water
1 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter

Toss blueberries in 1T lemon juice and spread evenly in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.
Combine oats, remaining ingredients, and remaining 1 T lemon juice in large bowl and stir. Pour mixture over blueberries.

Bake covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes; uncover and bake 20 minutes more (or until golden brown and set).

**Great with a dollop of vanilla yogurt!!**

More 4th...

We had planned to go to our neighborhood 4th of July parade (as participants) this morning, but Riley threw up a few times last night and I just didn't know what to expect of this morning...so, we went to the Round Rock parade downtown--as spectators.

Riley sat on the curb and found acorns in the landscaping and as he threw them onto the street he said, "Here chipmunks, here squirrels!" Too cutie! Afterwards, we ventured to the Frontier Days celebration and hung with the Colemans and the Wingroves. It was a good time!

Riley was up later than usual--we'd gone to eat late. Karol said, "Are you going to see the firecrackers?" and Riley went straight to the pantry to look for the "crackers!" Ha!!

We put Riley in his Marine uniform Justin got him for Christmas last year and sent him this video message. Riley actually said it all by himself--the first time that I wasn't recording (of course)! After a few takes, we finally got one that was worthy of sharing.

Happy 4th of July

This 4th of July has me more supportive and patriotic (and bless my heart, emotional) than usual. This day in which we celebrate our independence from Great Britain is also a day I celebrate my nephew and the thousands of other soldiers who are fighting in wars with Iraq and Afghanistan.

The right words don't seem to come to me when I sit down to sign Justin's guestbook. "Thank you" just doesn't seem to do it for me right now, though I am so thankful for him. Thankful that he risked his life so that me and my family could go about our daily business. Thankful that he is so much braver than I am...or will ever be.

Justin, your strong and amazing spirit is going to carry you (and the rest of us through).

Happy 4th of July to you, to every soldier, and to their families. Thank you!

God Bless America!!

God Bless Justin!!

Purple Heart

Our hero Justin officially became the nation's hero today. President George W. Bush paid a visit to Justin and his family in the hospital today and awarded Justin with a Purple Heart. What an honor!!

Kim said, "I don't even know what was said, all I know is he kept kissing me on the cheek!!"

http://www.purpleheart.org/Membership/Public/AboutUs/HistoryMedal.aspx

Hospital Photos (and an update)

Justin had surgery on Monday to amputate his feet. Russ was able to make arrangements to stay another day so he could be there when Justin came out of surgery (Russ is home as of last night). When they were in there, the doctors discovered that Justin's knees were worse than they originally thought and wanted to go back in and take more of his leg (from the knee). Last we knew, that surgery was scheduled for today.

Justin is still surrounded by family in Maryland--his mom, dad, sister, and grandfather are still with him. We're hoping to get up there to see him before too long.

Here is a clip from the news in Corpus that was posted today:

http://www.kiiitv.com/news/local/22843369.html

8:45 p.m. update: Justin is out of his 2nd amputation surgery. They amputated from the knee and the new doctor (that Kim really likes) wasn't happy with the hip pin and went in to make some adjustments--for the better, of course.

Justin is so tired of having all of these surgeries. Hopefully this will be his last one for a while. Please continue to pray for Justin and his physical and mental strength.

Mailing Address:

NNMC (stands for National Naval Medical Center, but you don't have to write it)
8901 Wisconsin Avenue
Building 10 Ward 5E
Room #5 East Room 9
Bethesda, MD 20889-5601
Attn: Lcpl. Justin Rokohl

Heeeeere's Justin....

He's okay, he just didn't know Russ was taking video!! :-)

Thankful

Yesterday brought us another blow.....after Justin's amputation surgery, they discovered his knees were worse than they thought and they're going to have to amputate from the knee. Just as we acclimate to news, another blow hits. This one hurt as much as the amputation news.

As we struggle to find the good in this situation, I'm asking God to remind me of the things we have to be thankful for in this situation, so I'm writing them down.

1. Justin is alive.
2. Justin is concious.
3. We have been able to talk to him.
4. He has family by his side now.
5. Justin is out of a war zone.
6. Justin was able to keep more of his leg than he lost.
7. Justin is being taken care of in the hospital by doctors and nurses who are doing the best the can.
8. He is young and strong and with some hard work, he'll be as good as new!
9. Justin has been peaceful and strong through this whole ordeal.
10. God is in charge, not us.

Hook 'em Justin!

Russ sent that picture (below) of Justin in the hospital with his horns up. Riley gave them back (looking at his picture on the cell phone).

Rockport Weekend

We had another great weekend. Thanks for having us Rob and Mike! We already miss you guys.

Good News and Bad News

(Russ sent this picture via his cell phone on Friday. Justin's smile made us feel so much better!!)

Okay, so we really haven't been hearing much from the family in Maryland. Riley, Karol, and I are in Rockport this weekend with Robbye and Mike. We've been hanging by the phone and waiting, waiting (and managing to have some fun too!).

Russ called yesterday afternoon and informed us that they discovered he had a broken hip in addition to all of his other injuries. Justin had surgery yesterday afternoon to put a pin in his hip and they were going to somehow connect that hip pin to his femur. They were also going to put a filter in his leg to prevent a blood clot from traveling to his heart. This surgery lasted 12 hours yesterday. Longer than they expected--Justin was still in surgery when we went to bed last night.

This phone call also brought news that Justin would likely loose both of his feet. The nurse explained that his foot bones and heel were "like a bag of bones" and they have been removing bone fragments. It just doesn't seem likely that they could put the bones back together and have a functioning foot. That's the bad news.

A foot specialist is flying in today to look at Justin's feet and provide some additional input on his feet. His doctor didn't seem to think that this foot specialist would disagree with her and that most likely Justin would lose both feet. I honestly think it is much harder for all of us to adjust to this news than it is Justin. Justin has been trying to prepare us for this all along.

The Good News is that Justin will have the opportunity to be a full functioning young man. The doctor said that with prosthetic feet, Justin will likely be walking again in 3-6 months. If they didn't take his feet, he would most likely never walk and be in a wheelchair.

Russ was trying to find a parking place in the hospital this morning as we were talking, so nothing new this morning. Please continue to pray for Justin and his recovery, Kim's strength as she stays with Justin, and the family as the travel.

Evening Update: Justin had a day today with no surgeries! He laid low and got to visit with his family. He told the doctors and nurses that if they were going to take his feet, to take them because he was ready to do it and get on the road to recovery.

His spirit through all this has kept us sane. He's been the calming force most of the time. Bless his heart.

Russ is also going to try to stay another day to see Justin after his surgery.