More Hodges' Happenings

I started writing this April 12th. It is April 21st... and so much of this has already changed! Trevor is busy with work and I am stressed to the max with the STAAR test coming up this week for my 6th graders.

We lead a busy schedule, like most people, I know we are not unique in this area. Sometimes I just sit back and think about everything that seems to be flying by.

1. Hollister... right now he keeps us the busiest with soccer, baseball, ears, and school.
He has not been cleared to play soccer yet. It has been a long time just waiting. But, because of the helmet, he can do baseball. Today he played and hit the ball twice. He made it to first once and got out once. They were both good hits though. He played 3rd, 2nd, and outfield. He was soooo close to catching a well hit ball in the outfield, but it jumped out of his glove. But, he did stop the play. On his 2nd hit, he made it to first base and was credited for the only RBI of the game.

He has a hearing test this next week. We will see.

He officially qualified for speech services at school. This is an area I feel like such a loser parent in. I should have gotten him tested years ago, but just didn't really think about the "non school" age services schools provide. Having him tested in school has been quite an ordeal and I have probably made some enemies in the school, but I decided making sure my child got the services he needed in a timely manner was more important. It  has been a pain in the neck to be honest and its not over, but at least now I know what he needs and how to get it.
Update: The ARD went well. He started speech immediately and we made some accommodations for his hearing loss. After this summer, we will probably need to do more. I have already started researching services offered and how to get the ball rolling if necessary.
2. Hamilton... he tags along with everything that we do for Hollister and tries to be just like him. Trevor and I have noticed that recently he repeats everything and has started talking in complete sentences. It is so funny to hear him talk so "big". He loves baseball and soccer and wants to play, just like the big boys. He literally wears me out at baseball games. He can not just sit and watch the game, he has to have a bat, a ball, a glove and a batting helmet. He has to "participate" as much as possible.
He loves music and is so good at entertaining himself and us in the process.
He is borderline stalking his Dad. If Trevor takes one step, Hamilton takes 3 to be right next to him. He "helps" him with everything he does and wants to play catch any time we are not at the ball field. He even prefers baseball on TV over cartoons these days.
He is officially out of his crib and will only sleep in Hollister's bed with him or in our bed with his Daddy. Mostly though, he sleeps with Hollister.

April 21st:
Hollister had his hearing test last week and from what we can tell, he has no hearing in his left ear. If he does, its very minimal. He also has hearing loss in his right ear, but he can hear. We are beginning the surgery process on the right ear soon. At this point, the Dr. thinks "worst case scenario" he could use a hearing aide on the right ear. None of this means anything right now. It will all depend on what happens when the doctor can see inside his ear.

Hollister went back to soccer today for the first time in almost two months. He kicked a goal!!!! His very first goal in the U8 division. We truly never imagined he would make a goal this season at all. We were thrilled. he is too. But as always, he just smiled and kept playing. He is crazy thrilled though. I wish I had been videoing.

He also started batting practice with a new coach. It's a hour a week. He watched his swing today and taught him correct form and practiced a lot of hitting. He will go once a week for 5 weeks and then we will see if he will continue. It was after his soccer game, so he is in his soccer uniform with his batting helmet and baseball cleats.

This is also the season attending birthday parties. Last week we celebrated his best friends, Jack's birthday. We got to go to the boys' favorite place, Chuck E. Cheese!

Hollister was all about Chuck E. Cheese. Hamilton on the other hand, he was completely freaked out by him. He stayed as close to his Daddy as possible when Chuck E. came out.

As for the older two boys. They are both good. Kendrick has officially stopped working his second job at the pizza place. He continues to go to school and work full time. CJ is doing well. He has completed his tennis season and looking forward to the next five weeks of school going quickly so he can relax this summer.

I know this is everything rolled in a long post, but maybe, just maybe I am caught up. I have to find more time to blog so I don't forget what is happening in our lives outside of just being busy.

15!!!

My baby turned 15 the other day! Wow how time has changed things.

15  year old stats:
Height: 5 ft 10 1/2 inches yes, he is officially taller than me
Weight: 170
Show size: 13 This shoe is really big!

And still, his most favorite thing for me to make him.... toast and eggs.

I also made him the bunny cake. It was kind of mix of his birthday and the fact that it was Easter.
Let me point out that Trevor baked the cake and made the icing for me. I actually decorated it. Don't look too closely and don't laugh. It was fun to do and it tasted delicious.

Honestly, not sad that he is 15, but a little freaked that he is about to get his driver's permit!

The story of the B's

Written April 9th:

BOYS and BUGS

While at Grandma's house Hollister made some new friends, roly poly's! It was so much fun for him to catch them and feel them walk on  his hands. He had been to Sonic that morning and gotten a toy called a "Critter Catcher" and it sure came in handy. He put a leaf inside and then collected roly poly's in it. He learned they don't need water, by drowning a few. But he noticed they did eat the leaf, just not very much. When it was time to leave he happily let them all out in the "wild" again.

BOYS and BOWLING

After all the work was finished at Grandma's house and a wonderful nap, we headed out for some bowling fun!  Bowling shoes are so cute!

 Granny style!

 Let's try it this way

When Hamilton got bored, the game room kept him occupied.

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Hodges Happenings

Written April 9th

Whenever something happens or I take pictures, I think, "Oh this will be a cute blog post". But it seems like I never get to sit and blog anymore, so I am always playing catch up. I like to have separate entries for different events, but I am pretty far behind.
I am off today, so here we go!!!!!

Trevor took a cake ball class a few weeks ago. He learned so much and brought home these decorative treats.

 Along with Hollister's surgery came wearing winter ski caps for two weeks. He didn't have to wear them, but Trevor put one on at a baseball game because of the wind, and Hollister took to them and wouldn't take them off. Well, of course Hamilton needed one too!

Supporting his team before he was cleared to play.

After the game chat.

Last Thursday, we had his post op appt with the Dr. It looked good but we don't know anything new because he is still very swollen inside. He was cleared for playing baseball but not soccer. He will have to have a hearing test in about a week and then he can resume soccer.

He has played in two baseball games. He has had 2 hits and scored 2 runs.

This past weekend, we had a few days off from school thanks to Easter. We traveled up to my mom's and like usual, put Trevor to work! She needed her workshop repainted. It looks like new and now she isn't in fear of her neighbors complaining about its appearance.
 First he pressure washed it to get all the old, chipped paint off.

 He also changed all the trim boards due to rotting. The shed is over 20 years old after all. Next, he taped the windows and then sprayed it.

Hard to tell from this picture, but it really looks like new. My parents are thrilled.

The shed is not used anymore, but it still holds some great gems inside. The boys found some old toys that used to be CJ's. They enjoyed playing with them while Daddy worked. Trevor used some of Dad's old tools and was in seventh heaven. We were also able to see some of the things he built. Hollister was very impressed, mostly by a wooden Christmas tree Grandpa had made years before.

 He loves mowing the grass at home and when he found this he was very excited.

I was impressed by this old rotary phone. And guess what? IT WORKS!!!

 The boys played really hard at Grandmas. Back at the hotel for nap time. How cute are they cuddled up together?

Nerf Gun Fun

A few weeks ago, Hollister was invited to a party for a friend from school that was Nerf gun related. Talk about fun! The invitation encouraged us to dress in camouflage and bring a Nerf gun, bullets would be provided. The pictures kind of say it all. The pictures are only of the Nerf gun fight. Before this they did "Sergeant Says" and if you missed you had to complete 2 push ups before sitting out. They also had a grenade fight with green balloons. Perfect since it was really hot outside.

                                           Hamilton enjoyed the party too, just from a distance.

This party was really fun, but really crazy too!

This video will give you a small piece of the madness that ensued.