Fiddler's Green

For those of you who don't know, Brian's particular unit is a cavalry unit, which has long standing traditions that go back to when soldiers still rode horses. This includes wearing a stetson, spurs on your boots, and a saber at your hip. There are special ways to earn these items, and Brian's unit invited the spouses to earn our spurs in what's called a spouse's spur ride. When the troopers earn their spurs, it takes about 24 hours of straight suffering. They let us only suffer for eight, God bless them.
Why did I sign up to do this knowing I would be only six weeks out of a c-section? 1. We've been in CAV units for a long time, but that will soon end when we move to Benning, so it was my last chance. 2. If it WEREN'T for the new baby and healing from surgery, I would do it, so I like to pretend it won't stop me. 3. I want to make my husband proud, which thankfully I did!
So here are the pictures from my day of adventure. The weather was perfect for a spur ride - cold, rainy and no sunshine whatsoever. The rain never let up once, and it was around the low 50s, I believe, for a high that day (we started at 8 a.m.). Thankfully my husband loves me and he packed all the wet and cold weather gear I would need in my bag.
First squad! I'm on the top left next to our leader in the stetson.

Combat nursing: Done quickly and under fire (we were at the weapons simulator and Ben had to listen to gunfire the whole time)

Me on the .50 cal

Brian couldn't help himself and jumped on the Saw

Listening to instructions before shooting the M-4 (I'm third from right)

Low crawling as I retrieve the claymore mine my team just blew up

Hamming for the camera. Don't I look FAB-ulous!

Enemy spotted!

I was running TOWARD the enemy, I swear!

Last minute studying before going before the board - I passed and earned my spurs!

The reason I am not as orange as my team mates is because I did in fact have to quit halfway through the obstacle course. I was using WAY too much of my abdominals and sure enough, I'm hurting now, but I'm not crippled, thank goodness. All the ladies, thankfully, did not see me as a quitter, but instead were in awe I was even out there so soon after having a baby. Brian carted Ben around the whole day so I could nurse him!
That evening, after a wonderful hot shower, they gave us a dinner and awarded us our spur necklaces. My name is now down in the history book as an honorary 1/17 CAV spur holder. Pretty cool. :)
The necklace