Merry Christmas!

The Hood family had a great Christmas. Ben and Logan made out like "bandits" with all the loot that Santa brought them! Ben was actually quite overwhelmed all day with his new toys..."what to play with next??...". And as you can imagine it was very difficult to get him down for his afternoon nap! But at the end of the day, everyone (including Mommy and Daddy) were very tired and we all slept great! Logan even slept 10 1/2 hours! Here are some pictures of our very fun day! The Hood boys on Christmas morning.

Ben checking out his presents from Santa.

Bonnie, enjoying her new frisbee from Santa.

Daddy and Ben opening presents.

Mommy and Ben showing Logan his presents from Santa!

Ben, posing on his new "Gator".

Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year!

Making Cookies for Santa

Ben and I made cookies for Santa this afternoon before nap time. Ben had a great time pouring the ingredients, mixing the dough, and decorating the cookies. We officially made a huge mess! But it was tons of fun! And I am sure Santa will enjoy them! :-)

Ben's 1st sleeping bag

Ben got his first sleeping bag from one of the ladies that works with Randy. It was a perfect gift...he didn't have a sleeping bag yet...and it was a "Cars" sleeping bag! All morning long, on this rainy, cold, dreary day, Ben has been laying in his sleeping bag watching his cartoons! He loves it! He has told me that he wants to "camp out" with Daddy.

My Sweet Boys

Bad Immunology News...

We got a phone call today from Ben's immunologist doctor, with the results of his blood work done last week. Ben's immune system still hasn't mounted a response to make antibodies to protect him from the pneumococcal disease. One month ago, Ben received a really strong pneumococcal vaccine from the immunologist, to see if he would make antibodies as a result of getting the vaccine. The labs showed that there was NO response, and in fact, his antibody levels are lower now than they were about 3 months ago. This is bad news as we head into the cold/flu season. Ben has absolutely no protection or ability to protect himself from the most common "bug" that causes upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, sinus infections and ear infections. The doctor said that when Ben gets sick, to call him and we will resume IVIG infusions. (The IVIG gives him an "artificial" immune system that lasts approximately 6-8 weeks before we have to go back and get another infusion.)
***Background information for those who aren't familiar with Ben's immune deficiency: Ben was diagnosed with Select Antibody Immune Deficiency when he was approximately 15 months old. For Ben's first 15-16 months of life, Ben was ALWAYS sick. He had his first double ear infection and sinus infection at 8-9 weeks of life (and yes, I was breastfeeding!). And things just got worse from there. He became resistant to many types of antibiotics and was on antibiotics for about 3 out of 4 weeks of the month---every month. We were referred to an hematologist/immunologist when he was about 15 months old and that is when we started IVIG infusions in the hospital every 4 weeks. IVIG (Intravenous Immune Globulin) is extracted from blood donors plasma---and it takes approximately 3,000 blood donors for Ben to receive ONE dose of IVIG. Ben had surgery last February to get a "port" placed from easier blood draws and infusions. The port has made our hospital visits easier and less stressful! So, we have been going in and out of the hospital for almost 2 years for Ben to receive IVIG, so that he can remain healthy and free from infections.
***(For those mothers out there, remember the PCV, Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, that our babies get at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months of age? Ben has received every dose, but his body never responded to the vaccine---it's like he never got them!)

Meeting Santa Claus!

Mimi and I took the kids to meet Santa Claus this morning. I really didn't know how Ben was going to react to sitting in Santa's lap...would he cry? would he talk? would he smile? But Ben was so excited to meet Santa! He climbed right up into his lap, smiled for the camera, and told Santa everything that he wanted for Christmas....and I mean everything! His list just kept going and going and going.... It was really cute! Logan, of course, was perfect...slept through the whole thing! :-) This Christmas is going to be really fun for Ben. He is really into presents, and Santa. And he even understands the real meaning behind Christmas---the birth of Jesus! He loves to play with his nativity and talk about all the characters.

Ben's 3rd Birthday

We had Ben's 3rd birthday party this last weekend. One of Ben's favorite things to do is to go swimming (we have been in swim classes for 2 years now!)---so we had a swimming birthday party! Of course, it was at an indoor, heated pool! The kids seemed like they all had a great time...especially Ben!

Having fun with the party horns!

Randy and Ben

Jordan and Jack

Todd and Cooper

The only time it was quiet at the party, was while the kids were stuffing their faces with cake and ice cream! :-)

Ben was really into opening presents this year... This Christmas will be really fun!

1 month old!

Can't believe a month has already come and gone... Logan is getting so big! His cheeks have really filled out and he is getting those adorable "rolls" on his arms and legs!

I've Been Tagged

Rules:
Post rules on your blog.
Answer the six "4" items.
Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment.

4 Things I Did Yesterday:
Played Diego Playdoh with Ben.
Took Ben to get his Flu Shot. :-(
Got my new front loading washer and dryer installed.
Took an hour nap with my boys! (Loved it!) :-)

4 Things I Look Forward to:
Trips to the coast.
Hugs and Kisses from Ben.
Sleeping--any chance I get!
My husband coming home from work.

4 Restaurants I Like:
Amorcito's
Chili's
Chuy's
The Egg and I

4 Things On My Wish List: (in no particular order)
Vera Bradley accessories/bags
To sleep 8 hours straight through the night---dependent on Logan!
Spa day (Manicure/Pedicure/Massage)
Kindle

4 Favorite TV Shows:
Private Practice
Grey's Anatomy
CSI
Law and Order: SVU

4 People I Tag: (Your It!)
Meagan
Abby
Mary Ann
Kelley

First Bath!

After 3 1/2 weeks, Logan's umbilical cord finally came off yesterday! I was so happy, because that meant that he could have a good, soaking, bath! No more sponge baths! Logan loved his first bath. He was very mellow and seemed to enjoy the warm water! Of course, he had a "death grip" on his Daddy's finger throughout the entire bath, but other than that, he seemed comfortable!

Logan meets the Rees cousins!

My brother Ryan, and his family came to meet Logan about a week ago. Jack and Becca were very excited to meet the new baby in the family! (Jack and Becca had just returned from a vacation in Cancun...thus, their very tan faces!) All of the cousins together!

Jack and Mimi with Logan.

Becca and Logan.

Aunt Jenny, Becca and Logan.

Daddy Time

Since Logan arrived, Randy has been taking Ben for special outings on the weekends---for "Daddy time". Here are some pics from a trip they took to the zoo a couple of weeks ago. The zoo is one of Ben's favorite places to go! Riding on a lion cub!

Crawling through a turtle shell.

Sandboxes never get old!

Looking at the big crocodile!

Picnic Time!

Quiet and Content

I can't seem to get over how different my boys are... Yes, they may look just like each other, but Logan is a much quieter, more content baby than Ben ever was. Here is Logan in one of his favorite positions (besides asleep!)---perched over a shoulder.

Logan: 2 weeks old

I took Logan for his 2 week check-up today with his pediatrician. He is now 9 lbs 4 oz and 21.75 inches long! He is growing like a weed...and I can't believe he is already 2 weeks old! Time has really flown by! Logan is a great baby; he is already sleeping 5-7 hours straight at night for me, before going back to feeding every 3 hours. Like Ben, Logan has reflux--but we were able to catch it early, and he is successfully being treated with medication. He is a very happy baby! Happy baby = Happy momma!

Ben's Playground completed!

This past weekend, Randy and my dad (with Ben's help, of course!) completed the construction of Ben's new playground set. When Ben woke up from his nap it was complete---this first picture perfectly captures Ben's emotions when he went outside for the first time! Sheer joy and excitement!

Climbing the rock wall.

Exploring with his new telescope!

Sliding down...

And falling down...it's a very slippery slide! He loved it! :-)

Visitors

Logan and I had some wonderful visitors this weekend! Jocylen and Joanne, two of my best friends from college, came down for a visit on Sunday morning. It was so good to see both of them---I just wish the visit could have lasted longer! It meant so much to me for them to visit. I love you girls!

Meeting Great-Oma

Logan's Great-Oma came for a visit this weekend to meet her 4th great-grandchild. Here is a picture of their first meeting!

Our beautiful family!

I was finally able to download more pictures from my parents' camera today. Here is a picture of our beautiful, newly-expanded family!