Wordless Wednesday

Milestones with the Hood Family

The Hoods have hit some big milestones lately that we are quite proud and excited about.

1. LOGAN IS WALKING!!! My baby started walking when he was 9 1/2 months old---and now at 10 months old is getting so brave, even trying to step up a stair or two. I think he will be running before his 1st birthday! Randy and I thought Ben was an early walker, at 10 1/2 months, but Logan proved he was ready before that marker! I think he just wants to keep up with big brother...

2. BEN HASN'T HAD TO BE ADMITTED INTO THE HOSPITAL FOR 1 YEAR!!! Ben's last IVIG infusion was Sept 10th, 2008. Randy and I feel so blessed that Ben has been able to stay healthy for so long. Yes, we have had a couple of stomach viruses, and one infection requiring antiobiotics, but for the most he has been great! We continue to go in for blood work and labs, and still his lab work comes back looking absolutely pitiful---we just can't understand with such bad labs why this kid has been so healthy---but he presents himself medically stable and healthy! Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow! We count our blessings every day, because we know he is still vulnerable.

3. KRISTEN IS STARTING A NEW JOB!!! (What?!?) I know, it felt weird typing that sentence because I absolutely LOVE staying at home with my kiddos. However, I also love being a nurse too. And recently, I was presented with an opportunity where I could do some nursing education, and not have to leave my kids during the day. Santa Rosa opened a new hospital at Westover Hills/Sea World area, and I have been asked to help with patient education classes for the women's services department. I will be helping with breastfeeding classes, childbirth classes, infant care classes, and even teaching some Friends/Family CPR classes. For those of you who know me well, you know that patient education is a passion of mine---and this opportunity is such a blessing for me. I will be able to continue to have my hand in the nursing field and continue to stay at home with my kids. The best of both worlds... My first breastfeeding class is tomorrow, so wish me luck! I am really excited about it! I think it will be fun. :-)

"First Day of School! First Day of School!"

Yesterday was the boys' first day of school! Ben is starting his 3rd year at Parkhills MDO/Preschool, and Logan is starting his 1st year! Ben's class is definitely more like a preschool this year, with curriculum geared towards learning more about letters, numbers, calendar days and months, sight words, etc. His classroom is really cute and looks like a real school room too!Ben will even begin to start writing his letters and numbers this year. My big boy is growing up so fast...

Logan is in the baby room---no curriculum for the babies, but the teachers are so sweet and love playing with the babies! I have been nervous about leaving Logan, we are quite attached to each other. (By the way, Logan only goes to MDO once a week, whereas Ben goes twice a week.) Logan is definitely a "momma's boy" and I have been quite the "Logan's momma" too! So, with tears in my eyes, I dropped him off for the day---and he did great!!! He never cried when I left and the teachers said he had a fabulous day. He took a nap, played hard---but refused his lunch. Logan is not one to refuse food...so I think this was his way of showing that he knew something was different. When we got home, Logan was really tired so I put him down for his afternoon nap---and I had to wake him up at 5:30pm! MDO wore that little baby out. I think a little separation will be good for both of us.

Morning Playtime

Wordless Wednesday

My Baby Fish!

Logan is has learned to really love the water! He spent an afternoon in POC in the pool---and loved every minute! Here's my little fish

There's a 1st and 2nd time for everything

So our weekend in POC didn't go exactly to plan...of course, with kids, you can never expect things go according to plan. Evidently some slightly "off" behavior of Ben on Friday should have been tell-tale signs for me that he wasn't feeling so good. But Ben hasn't been sick in a long time, so I really played off the behaviors as not having enough sleep the last couple of days, due to Sea World and having to take his nap in the car heading to POC (naps in cars are never as good as a bed!). Anyway, Ben slept BAD Friday night. He was up every couple of hours, crying and fussing. He evidently had a fever that broke in the night too, because he woke up drenched with sweat in the cool bedroom. And when we eventually got up in the morning, he was laying around, not playing, complaining that his throat hurt really bad. So, after breakfast, Randy and I loaded up in the Tahoe and headed to Port Lavaca Memorial Hospital. It was our 1st trip to this hospital. It was very small, but nice and very clean. (This nurse was impressed!) After seeing the doctor (who was really weird), Ben's strep and flu test came back negative (thank goodness), but his throat was really red. And since he had been having fever, we got an antibiotic anyway to cover what might be going on. With Ben's immune disorder, we can never be too safe. So after spending most of the day in Port Lavaca, we headed back home to POC. With Motrin and antibiotic, Ben felt better and was able to play between doses and even got to go fishing. Here's my little fisherman. Ben caught his 2nd fish---a small trout! Yea Ben! He was very excited!


Heading to the dock to fish with Daddy and Gran!

Waiting for Daddy to rig up Ben's fishing pole!

Ben and Gran---fishing buddies.

Ben and Daddy---watching their bobber!

Still watching...

He caught something! A little speckled trout!

Proud Ben posing with his catch of the day!

Happy Fisherman!