BCT Graduation-South Carolina

I was so happy that Curtis' and my planned trip to South Carolina to be at Ford's graduation from Basic Combat Training was still a go after my crazy medical adventures.

I was scared to try to take my Lovenox shots on the plane and received a tender mercy of finding out the day before we left that I had enough Coumadin in me to stop taking the shots. Hoorah!!

We drove to Durango and flew to Denver, then on to Atlanta. We found it was cheaper to fly out of Durango than to go all the way to SLC, so we went that route. I can also say that going through security at Durango's little airport was a breeze!

We got in really late to Atlanta, grabbed a few winks and were off again early the next morning to drive to Columbia SC. We were a bit late getting off but I think we'd have made it in time to see them do their exercises if there hadn't been a huge line of cars trying to get on base! Oh well, we made it in time to find him. It was interesting because we really didn't know where to look for him and everyone looks the same, soldier style. Took a while but I eventually honed in on him. They had to stay in formation til their family found them. I walked up to him with tears in my eyes and he smiled back at me. He had stood there so long he probably thought we weren't coming!

This was after we finally found him and were heading out of the stadium.
I don't know why he's doing that with his hands.

Had to find the Utah flag and have our picture taken there.

We were so happy that Grandma and Grandpa W would take the time to come with us to see Ford.
They are wonderful grandparents and really try to support their family, always trying to be at special events.

Mike Welch, Ford Welch, Ellen Welch

                                             
He had to stay on base that day so we went to a nice park and had a picnic, we went to the building where he went to church to an open house the missionaries have for those graduating. We drove around a bit, we walked at the PX, (Grandma tried to go in the liquor store! ;o ) and ate dinner at Popeye's. Along with every other soldier and his family in SC! Gotta love Family Day on base.
We had to drop him off at a certain time so he could get back to his bay on time and so we could go get some sleep.

The companies in formation on the parade grounds.

Here they are marching to the left to come around in front of the grandstands.

This is Ford's Company and he is on the end nearest us of the 4th row from the left,
(not counting the lone soldier at the left end). 

Grandpa congratulating Ford.

He was well trained to stand at attention while in his ASUs.  

Nice bright sunshine makes for a loverly picture. Oh, well, we had to document
that we were there anyway.

Ford and his battle buddy, Schneider.

                                               

"Can we just go, please?"

waiting for our burgers....

Of course, you would get peanuts for an appetizer in the South, wouldn't you?

Sitting in the parking lot, using the WiFi.....

Trying to catch up on what is going on in the world...we did lots of sitting in cars.

We are proud of you, Ford, for toughing it out through Basic. It was good for you!

 The next day we went back to the parade grounds and watched their  graduation exercises. It is something to see so many soldiers all marching and looking so sharp in their dress uniforms. 

After it was over, we found him again, took some pictures and then he had a day pass. We drove around Columbia, ate lunch at Five Guys burgers, drove through the campus of the university there, drove by the State Fair that was going on....and sat in the parking lot of a Target where Ford could get wi fi so he could set up his new iPod. 

At last it was time to say goodbye yet again and get him back to his bay on time. We were happy to see him doing so well and looking so confident, but it was hard to leave him again. Too many goodbyes for me! 

It was back to Atlanta and Durango and home for us and on to Fort Lee in VA for Ford!

Camp Jackson-Oct 2012

To celebrate my dad's birthday and spend time together as family my mom rented the cabin up on the mountain at Camp Jackson for a couple of days.

I had only been home from the hospital in Provo for a day and my ability to breathe was still compromised. I was still taking Lovenox shots and had started on the Coumadin. There are quite a few things to do at the cabin, but I mostly sat around because at that altitude I quickly became short of breath if I exerted myself at all.

We took 4-wheelers up and the kids had fun riding them around. Lots of game playing and movie watching, some craft activities and good food, but I think the hit of the trip for the kids was the paddle boats on the little reservoir. I even made my way down to the 'lake' and Wendy paddled me around for a bit. I was royalty and got a ride on a 4-wheeler back up to the cabin. 

My favorite part was the last night we were there. Each of us had a small battery powered candle. We sat in a large circle and shared our memories of Dad. As a person shared their memory their candle was 'lit'. Soon all the candles were lit and we basked in the glow of our love for Dad/Grandpa. Oh, how we miss him!

We talked about renting the cabin every year near Dad's birthday, but its pretty expensive so I don't know if that will happen.

This is the little 'lake' where the paddleboats are used.

looking down off the deck at everyone having fun outside.

It was just a bit too late for good fall color, rats. It was very cold up there too and we had to keep a fire burning in the stove at all times in order to be warm. Thankfully there was lots of wood ready to burn and lots of blankets.