Can I create a host program running on my computer then connect to this session with another program running on my computer using my own tcp/ip address as the machine to connect with. If I can''t do this is there any other way to test my program with out having to get someone to run a host program on some other computer. Note: my program only conects using a tcp/ip address.

Sure you can, use your localhost, ip 127.0.0.1

You should consider just plain ole socket programming. Portable and just a simple, if not more simple.