So, Lots have been in the works for Team Baker. Finally got the Scarecrow's in the Park finished... so if you are in the Opp Area, you should check it out! Here are a few pictures...
Monday, October 10, 2011
Team Baker...
Posted by The Mitchell's at 1:24 PM 0 comments
Thursday, September 22, 2011
My Food for the Soul
So just this past summer, I decided that I wanted to start readying. And since my Mother, Sister, Sister-in-law, Aunts, Cousins... etc have read tons of Karen Kingsbury books, I decided... why not. That was one of the BEST decisions I have recently made!! It has really changed my life! It covers life, death, sickness, love, marriage's ups and downs, accidents that change you, good and bad choices that people make, but most importantly, it all is centered on Christ! And I want that "Baxter" faith! I started with a few independent books cause I knew that I didn't like to read! And I didn't want to start, and never finish. Little did I know, that I would fall in love with her work!! I literally have to make myself put my book down or I will stay up all night reading.
Posted by The Mitchell's at 7:29 PM 0 comments
Monday, September 5, 2011
Vent Camp Part 2
Posted by The Mitchell's at 7:10 PM 0 comments
Baker's First Beach Trip
Posted by The Mitchell's at 6:08 PM 0 comments
Where did Summer go???
July 2nd was Derek and my 6 year anniversary and since we were going to the beach in the next few weeks, we just decided to go out to eat in Enterprise at Ruby Tuesdays... My favorite!! : ) Then since we were short handed at work, I offered to fill in some of the slots. (Saving up for the Beach) And on July 15, we packed up our van and loaded Baker up and we were off to the Beach! It was Baker's first trip, but also, it was the first time that Derek and I got to go with the family to the beach since he was born!
But he was a trooper and got an arm work out in the mean time!! HA! Make sure you check back to see lots of pictures from the beach trip! We had a Wonderful time!
This summer was a summer with lots of First for Baker: First Boat Ride, First Vacation, First zoo Trip, First time to the Beach, First Restaurant, First time Bowling, First Camp, and we hope Baker will get to continue to experience all that life has to offer him! God has REALLY blessed my life with Baker, and I know that he has blessed others too! Please continue to pray that God will continue to use Derek and me as an Advocate for special needs children. We really have a passion to help others. So HOPEFULLY we will soon start a Non-profit organization called Team Baker and minister to families with special needs children.
Posted by The Mitchell's at 5:10 PM 0 comments
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The Good and the Bad...
Well, we got so much going on these days... Between raising a family, worrying about hours we work, bills to pay, and trying to do things for ourselves, we also are moving... well, we are gonna start soon! REAL soon. We are gonna be out by the end of this month. "It" just isn't fun anymore... struggling to survive, and only wanting to do better for ourselves, but not being able to fully commit. It is hard to explain, but we want to be comfortable. SO, we are packing up and moving in with my Wonderful parents. They have plenty of room for us, and we will have a floor to ourselves. It will cut down on bills and we will hopefully be able to put money back into our savings, which was depleted when Baker was in Birmingham.
It really doesn't bother me! I am kinda excited! I hate that we have to bring the nurses and therapist into their house, but they offered and said it didn't matter to them. God Truly blessed me with Wonderful Parents!!
Posted by The Mitchell's at 8:56 PM 0 comments
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Vent Camp 2011
First off, let me just say that this was a vacation that Derek and I desperately needed!!! But not only for the rest and relaxing atmosphere that we were in, but also to meet other families and children who go through the same thing as we do each day. It was neat to see all the different wheelchairs, and communication devices. We heard storied about children weening themselves. (Weening is a term used when we try to take them off the vent for periods of time.) Most of the children, with a few exceptions, are able to be off the vent for hours during the day, some are only on the vent at night. That is our goal!!
We left Thursday afternoon when Derek got off work. We were hoping
to make it there for supper that evening so we could socialize, but due to our constant tardiness... that didn't happen!! : ) We did make it there when everyone was leaving for the pool. So we unpacked and made our beds, got on our swimsuits and off we went to the pool! He had a BLAST!!!! As soon as we got to the pool and walked in the gate, he started smiling and kicking and flapping his arms! He couldn't wait! We got him and us all set and ready to get in! I sat on the bottom step and let him rest on my knees and he played and splashed for 2 hours!! Needless to say when we got him back to the cabin and dressed for bed, he was out in 10 minutes! Great sleep!!
These next few pictures are from the first full day we were there. The AVS ( I THINK) came for the kids to do arts and crafts! We were worried that Baker wasn't going to do well and pitch a fit cause he hates having nasty hands... and finger paint is a No No! But I guess since he had the sponge brushes, he loved it!!
Baker and his new friend Corey!
This is him making his Bubble gum dot! Everyone got to make a gumball! Thought this was a cute idea!
Getting ready for the boat ride...
Baker's First Boat Ride... HE LOVED IT!!! He wasn't a fan of the wind in his face, but he loved it!!
The night after the boat ride, was Karaoke Night! This was Tye and his family getting things started!!
Listening to the singing!!
The next day they did a carnival for the children. Most got their face painted, but not Baker! He hates to have his face dirty so he kept pushing the hand away!! So instead we let him wear the clown hat!! Cute huh?? ; )
And of course the clown nose!! : )There are more pictures that I want to post of the parade that they went on... That will be in part 2!! I need to go to the gym! I have lost 30 pounds in 2 months and I want to keep it going! I feel so much better about myself and I need to meet my goal for our Anniversary!! Only 17 more to go and I have less than a month! I better Kill it at the gym!! ; )
Posted by The Mitchell's at 7:58 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Life...
Warning: This may make you mad or sound like I am complaining... so if you don't want to hear it... don't read it!! : )
Ok... I am having a hard time understanding why things are the way they are... BACKWARDS!!! I know that most of you that are reading this know us personally or can relate to our situation, but it really urks me that there is NO help out there for us to support Baker. Sure, there is SSI, but that is only because Derek and I make hardly any money. And what we get, doesn't even cover our electric bill. You see, Baker isn't considered disabled because he isn't 18 years old, so we can't just get disability for him. (Which is SO stupid!!! Cause he is in EVERY sense of the word, disabled.) The only reason we keep him on the SSI is because we HAVE to keep his insurance. Just to rent his equipment a month plus his supplies that we get monthly is out of this world!!! Think about it... rentals on a ventilator, humidifier, suction machine, feed pump, oxygen concentrator, pulse ox machine, plus the equipment that we don't use on a daily basis. Then we get suction catheters, trachs, gauze, syringes, water bags, feed bags, feeding tubes, trach kits, vent circuits, etc... the list goes on and on.
I guess it is so hard for me because, I want to work, Derek and I both. We want to be able to support our family like any other normal family would!! We both want to work full time jobs, and send our child to day care and have to worry about bruised knees, or boo- boos. We already have to deal with the stress and challenges of dealing with a child with special needs, but to have to deal with keeping a roof over our heads, or paying bills, or having food to eat because we are being punished because we have a sick child is just wrong. What is wrong with this world when the people that NEED the help can't get it and the ones who don't need it get all the help in the world???
Baker is 3 years old and we have just recently found out about another program called the Elderly and Disabled Waiver... but guess what... Covington County doesn't offer the respid care that Baker requires. SERIOUSLY??? I just knew that EDW would be the answer to many prayers... but now, I don't know what to do, where to turn, how to make things better! I feel like I am lost!
Most people know me as a bright, cheerful person, but if you really knew me in the privacy of my own home, you would know that I am always worried, about Baker, school, bills, working just enough hours, forms that have to be filled out all the time doctors appointments to make, trips to Birmingham, etc. Life just seems to be throwing me punches left and right, and just when I get back onto my feet, I get an upper cut to the jaw! and Back down I go!
I'm not trying to play a pity party, but I just want people to realize what we have to go through daily!! And when you think things in life are hard, try walking in someone else's shoes!! Even I have to do that! I wouldn't wish this on any child! I am so tired of having to defend/fight for my child and our situation. These so called "jokes" shouldn't be told and when they are, they should apologize, expecially from a business. (I am really trying to let that one go, but it is HARD) It is just wrong! Something has got to be done!! I don't know what else to do other than praying and Begging God for help! He has never let us down and just when we think there is no hope, He always pulls through! We don't have the extra's but we have what we need!
I feel like there is more that I want to say or need to say, but I guess I have said too much! I guess this is my cry out for help... I don't know!
Once again... Sorry for putting it all out there!!!
Posted by The Mitchell's at 9:10 AM 0 comments
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Beating ALL odds!!!
Here is a picture of Baker... He was a month old and had just had his first surgery. This was also the first time we saw his face with nothing on it... no tape, wires, or tubes!!
And here is my 3 year old!! He was loving those balloons!!
I plan to have some time tomorrow to post his party pictures... It has been a crazy and LONG weekend!
Posted by The Mitchell's at 10:36 PM 0 comments