MERRY CHRISTMAS

Finally, some recent pictures! The last few weeks have flown by in the Hoffman household. Bree has adapted very well to her long leg casts. We have no issues of pain except if her thigh gets pinched between the casts and a hard surface. Initially, the potty training was at a dead stop but now she is back to that as well. My mother and grandmother came for 8 days and helped us out immensely. We were able to get a "new" generation photo to include Bree which was awesome.

Bree's personality continues to grow. She really is a funny child. Loves to tease her daddy. Her newest word is "go" and she uses it frequently if Doug sits next to her-at the same time pointing in the direction he should head! But, if mommy is not around then Daddy hangs the moon. Currently we have Bree in speech weekly, but the therapist keeps stating this will be short term. We are mainly working on articulation as word volume is not a problem. Early intervention comes to the house monthly and evaluates her progress. We work mainly on her hand strength. Once she is cast free we will start a combination of OT and PT weekly.

Bree got her first taste of Santa last weekend at our annual Breakfast with Santa at our parish. She watched intently as child after child sat on his lap and kept telling me "no" when I asked if she wanted to do the same. But, then she saw the candy cane and I told her the only way to get it was to sit on his lap and that was all it took. She wouldn't, however, look at the camera for me as she was trying so hard to open the candy cane!
We are in the process of readopting Bree in the United States. What that essentially does is gives her an Ohio birth certificate, making it much easier for her and us in the future if she needs to produce a b.c. for any reason (ie. passport). Her chinese b.c. is only two lines.

CASTING UPDATE

We trust all of our friends and family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We certainly had much to be thankful with our many blessings! Bree was pretty much back to normal by the holiday weekend. This morning we went back to the hospital at 6 a.m. for her cast change under anesthesia. In reality, what they did was take off her splints and put fiberglass casts on - in hot pink! She tolerated the procedure very well and we were back home again by 9:45 a.m. I am now at work while, hopefully, she and daddy are napping. Her doctor was very pleased with how her feet looked and felt she was healing extremely well. These long leg casts will stay on for 6 weeks and then we go to short leg casts for another month. I will post pictures eventually!!
Blessings!