The Countdown is on!

So, it actually has been since the day he left, but we are really down to 5 days now!!! So excited to go to Missouri and see our soldier! He called again last night and says they are just preparing to graduate now. He is so excited to be done and you can hear in his voice that he is really proud of what he has accomplished. I don't know if he will be honor grad but they are awarding him with a special badge to wear on his uniform that he gets for being the highest in his class in physical training. OF COURSE, they are giving it to him before we can make it there to watch! Why is the Army so on top of things?!! Anyway, he is excited to get on to SC where the whole coast is on fire and heading into hurricaine season. (That's the mom in me.) He just wants his ipod and camera and the new phone I bought him.
Can't wait to see him!

One small step for me...

One GIANT step for Macade!!!
I got a pic! It's just one and was sent from a camera phone, but it was manna from heaven for me. Look at his chubby little cheeks!!!
He got an off-post pass this morning and RAN all the way to the PX. He and his buddies loaded up on Red Bulls and Reeses peanut butter cups. Just as he was chowing down some Drill Seargents walked in and he swore into the phone. But in the end, the DS's just told them to not bring any of that !@#$ back to the barracks.
He is so happy this morning! He is a Squad Leader now and he just couldn't be happier.
And I am pretty darn happy too!

Expert Grenade Thrower

I couldn't be prouder. I think it is a good thing that Cade qualified an expert with Grenades. All that baseball must have paid off eh? He is getting so excited to be done at Fort Leonard Wood. He has excelled and now he is ready to move on. Still at the top of his class. In fact, he scored a 297 out of a possible 300 on his physical training. He gets his phone now on Sundays so he has been able to call a few times. He decided on a whim to check out the Gospel Church on Sunday. He says he doesn't think he'll go back again but it sure did give him a good laugh. He loved that they play the piano and drums during the prayer.
What a kid?
B

It finally happened...

Macade is homesick! I thought it might happen but now that we are so close to the finish I guess it took me by surprise. Macade has been able to call home a lot more lately as some of you know. I don't know if this is such a good thing for him. He even told me that after he talks to everyone he gets a little homesick. So today, he called 3 different times. He supposedly is in what they call blue phase now and this means they get more privileges and are punished for their own issues, not everyone elses. So, the first time I talked to him he was pretty up beat. Excited to be in blue phase and doing so well. The next time, he is swearing mad because someone went into the DS's latrine and they would all get in trouble for it. He told me this one DS in particular is all ego. He tells them he will destroy them and what not. OK, who said this was OK? It takes me all the way back to when Macade would get picked on in grade school. I want to go get my face up in his DS's and ask him if his mama taught him anything. "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all", right? Something tells me this wouldn't do either of us any good. Anyway, if there was ever a time that Cade needs some good upbeat mail, it's time!!! He is doing so good and I keep reminding him of how close he is to finishing and how bad he wants to be honor grad. I tell him they are just messing with him and to just Embrace the Suck! Anyhow, if anyone needs his address, let me know. I'm so sure he would welcome a good letter of encouragement.
Thanks again,
B
PS Some good prayers for him couldn't hurt either. Thanks

Oh, he's busy...

Oh so I guess he has been so busy he has had no time to write now. There you go. I spoke with Macade for a while yesterday and it was great! He is so up beat and happy! He has never been homesick for a second and loves to tell me all about what he is doing. I especially love when he talks about rocket launchers and grenades. My favorite...
This may be a little tooting of his own horn, but I'm so proud that I will tell about it anyway. He is at the top of his class. He recently forgot his flashlight when they went out and his DS got really mad at him and told him he was going to be his "Honor Grad" and that he can't be forgetting things. This is a huge deal! This would open many doors for Macade and send him to Airborne which is what he wants. He also says that the Commanders all know him and it's a good thing not bad. When told to hustle, they tell the soldiers to "run like Moore". The DS's are placing bets on how fast he will run his 2 mile test. His latest # is 11:20. On a good day, I can run 3/4 mile in that long. He was awarded a special vest the other day in front of his whole company that gives him the chance to do physical training on his own because he is so far ahead. I know, this is crazy, but he really is doing this great!!! I cannot wait to go to graduation!! I don't know if my moody self can handle the pride I will be oozing. I will for sure take waterproof mascara!
I did get a letter today also. He said he was fitted for his Class A's and he loves wearing his beret. He says he was born to wear it. He says it makes him feel so proud. He hates MO weather really bad and that is the only thing he really complains about. When it snows there he calls it "icing" instead of snowing. He says it just rains ice. He has been shooting the big guns this weeks and is really enjoying that. He told me it's the kind you see on the big military trucks. He says it is so loud and that I better be ready to hear a lot of it when we go there.
And to finish this post off, my son and I actually weigh the same amount for the first time ever!!! He is excited to be up to this weight and I am excited to be heading down past the same weight. Funny!
Thank you all for your support of Macade. He loves to get your letters and he likes to get pictures as well. This is about all he can get after all.
I will end this post now with visions of the 120 lb me weeping with joy at the sight of my son, the 135 lb honor grad, getting a bunch of awards at graduation. He, he.
I know I need therapy!

Hello????

So I'm not flaking out here people. My son, the soldier, is not corresponding! What the? Who said this was OK? Well I might be exaggerating a smidge. I heard from him today. It is the first time in a spell. He is doing great. Moving right along through his training. He missed expert marksmanship with his rifle by 1 point. I think he is pretty bummed about that. But he is not a bit worried about his PT test. He maxed that out weeks ago. So bless his heart, he really want girlfriend, M, to come to graduation. M's mom (hey P) has decided that this is a bit too much too fast and I agree. Now to get Macade to understand. He is begging me to get a hold of P and schmooze her into letting M go. I don't think he has bothered to think about how much it will cost, where she will stay, how she will get around in MISSOURI of all places! Oh Macade, how lucky are you that good ol ma and pa are coming to hang out?
B
I wrote back to him today and reminded him who is sending the stamps and paying the phone bill. That'll get him writing.

IV certified?!!!

So, there you have it... My son that almost passed out when they drew his blood, can now give an IV. It's amazing! In 5 short weeks he has grown up and changed so much that I can't wait to "meet" him! Macade called today and I also got a letter! Good Day!! He says he really is loving it. They have been working on marksmanship with their guns. He's doing really good and would like to get to expert level which is 36 or higher and I think he told me he got a 37. He's doing excellent in PT (physical training). He is 12 points off of maxing out. Then he gets a badge when he graduates. He ran 2 miles in 11 minutes and 45 seconds. He says he smoked everyone. If he remains the top guy, he gets a free ticket to Airborne! (His dream come true!) He has a bit of a big head right now but I figure when you can't even eat chocolate or drink diet coke, you gotta have something going for you. I'll whip him back into shape when he decides to come home. Macade is reading the Book of Mormon and has challenged us to read it again. He also gave one to a friend of his there. When people find out he is a Mormon, they very seriously ask him how many wives he has. He gets a real kick out of that. Anyway, I think he is sitting just right. He does what he is told and helps out all his fellow soldiers. He got his fancy picture taken and I can't wait to see those! I'll post asap. Thank you so much to all of you that have been writing to him. He loves to get mail and see what's up with people at home. Overall, in 5 letters, the change is drastic. He is growing up and becoming exactly what we knew he could be. We are so proud of him!
B