Plugging Leaks

Ok, ive been playing more short handed NL lately because ive been getting my ass beat in my home game. I am a successful Full Ring limit player (1/2 and 2/4) and multi table sng (5 - 10 dollar buyin), and i realize short handed NL is a very different beast.

Its tough because i only walk away from the game remembering the big hands, and I know im losing a significant amount of my stack to blinds and preflop/flop play, but that is mostly due to my stack size. we play $20 buyin, with 25/50c blinds for the first 3 hours and 50c/1d blinds the final 2.

It feels like these are mostly crappy run of cards, but it could be poor flop play on my part.

Ive got lots more bad beat situations from the game, but here were the two significant hands from last night.
Hand 1:
Just after blinds raise 5 handed
Hero (BB): $26
Villain (Button): 20 ish

As Jd
limps around the table
I check
Flop: Ac Jh 5h
SB checks, i check, checks to villain who bets $2, i call everyone else folds
turn: 9c
I check, villain bets $2, i raise to $6, villain calls
river: 2s
I bet $6, villain pushes all in, i call
villain holds pocket 5s

Hand 2:
4 handed
Hero: $8
Villain: $67

Qs 6d
UTG and Button fold, SB (villain) calls i check
flop: 6c 9s 10d
villain checks, i bet $2 villain calls
turn: Qh
villain checks, i push all in, villain calls
Villain: 7c 8c

First off, One major aspect that i know will be commented on is bet size, both in relation to pot and previous bets. While I understand these premises, they arent managable in this structure it seems. with a PFR there is usually 3-4 players in and pot betting it down would result in committing ones entire stack by the turn. Is it correct to make adjustments to ones game based on how other people play? If everyone has a certain respect for a 2 dollar bet, even tho it may be 10% of the pot, should it be treated as such? or should i just play with the odds. It seems much more important the bet in relation to stack size rather than bet in relation to pot size. Are there any articles specifically about home game play out there i should read?