The Oosting Family: Polar Vortex is putting it mildly...

We left the house Monday venturing out with our heart love child, not because we just HAD to get out, but because...

1) Piper had a photo shoot at Helen DeVos. She (we) were asked to be a part of a fundraising campaign for the congenital heart program. I wrote up a little ditty about our 33 day "Hotel Helen" experience, and they took pictures that will then go in a book for potential donors. We are hoping our Pippi helps raise millions of dollars for this amazing congenital heart program!! (Please let us know if you would like to donate that spare million you have lying around!!)

2) Piper had another follow up to Dr. Lee. (Have I mentioned yet how much I love this man? I need to tell him at our next visit he is never allowed to retire!! That goes for you too Dr. Marcotte!! No retiring!!)

The visit was another answer to prayers. Everything looked really great, and we don't have to return till APRIL!! That feels like a million years away and we'll take it!!

Here are the heart highlights...

1) Ding Ding... The rhino's coming in at 10.3 pounds. That's a full pound up from when we saw Dr. Lee 12 days ago!! Who told us these heart babies aren't good growers and eaters??

2) Oxygen level continues to trend at 100!!

3) Feisty pants got an echo... Thank you Lindsey for your patience!! We love you! You deserve a raise!! (Whose your boss?? We'll put in a good word for you and Season!!) She wasn't the most cooperative (big surprise!) We regrouped, turned the lights down, and got her to fall asleep, and then got the imagines we needed.

Dr. Lee was pleased with the echo. So much so that we get to discontinue her mitral valve twice daily medicine!! Hooray!! One med down... 4 to go!!!

He mentioned some narrowing somewhere - but was quick to say he wasn't worried.

4) First time heart mom had a couple of questions for the surgery team. As luck would have it Jess was in house and came to our question rescue!! You know those people that you can tell love their job... Jess is one of them!! These babes are her passion. (She also deserves a raise!! A big raise!! If you want to mail that million right to her I'll make that happen!!)

We now have the ok to give Piper a real bath. Not the makeshift sponge bath on the living room floor we have been doing for 3 weeks. Hooray for 'full submersion' 'baptism style' baths now!!
Within the week we can also start lifting her like a "normal" baby - under the arms that is - instead of the neck and rear swoop.

A huge thank you to Nana Oosting who accompanied P and I on this adventure. The journey home on Lake Michigan Drive was the WORST!! Cars weren't making it up the hills and the backup was massive! This winter will be memorable for so many reasons!!

And now for some fun... No, not "Where's Piper" -- but more installments of that are coming!
Piper is so fortunate to have 2 amazing photographers in her life. First was Ms. Dana - This was the day following her second home coming. We were all a little sleep deprived... but Dana brought coffee and donuts!! It's amazing what coffee and donuts do for sleep depravation!

Here is a sample of her fabulous work...

We had to keep Bry happy.. so the hunting hat made an appearance.

This hat was a given to Pips in the NICU. There is a lady who lost her (premature) little angel (Rosie) and now makes these adorable hats for babes that find themselves on the third floor of HDCH.

Thank you Jamie and Kim for this adorable hat!! We love!!

And our second photographer was cousin Lindsee. Here is a preview of the session she had with Piper. (If you need pictures taken she's GREAT - you can find her on FB at Lindz Lenz Photography.)