Livy's hospital stay

          Livy was admitted this last monday to treat her cavernous hemangioma, which is located on her front fontanel. This very rare golf ball size bump filled with blood has worried us since it began growing at 2 wks old.  There are multiple different types of angiomas and this one, given location/type/size was a big worry for bleeding. We have been watching it grow for about 7 months now, almost what seems like daily and hoping an accident does not happen.  It is so thin a small scratch could make it bleed, which would be devastating. We have seen multiple professionals and have received countless opinions and advice about it.  After much prayer and research, Adam and I both decided that we needed to get it treated.  The treatment we used is with a Beta-Blocker called Propanolol.   This is a heart medication that has been out for forty years and recently by accident noticed that it shrinks these angiomas.  I have learned quickly that medicine is always risky, but we are willing at this point to take this risk, because bleeding is a much higher risk.
          One risk is Livy's lungs, she has what docs call a "reactive airway." This is essentially baby asthma, but they don't want to diagnose her with asthma because of insurance reasons and they usually grow out of it.  Asthmatics are not supposed to get on this medication because it can restrict the lungs more and cause their breathing treatments not to work so well.  Every little cold has affected her pretty bad and goes directly to her lungs, which makes me develop once again another ulcer in my stomach from stress.  I feel like I am a paranoid mom, but how can I not protect my little angel?  Please don't be offended if I do not let livy be around you because you are sick... it is going to be winter months and I can't think of anything worse than having her be hospitalized for breathing problems, because of a small cold. This medicine is really rough on her lungs and we pray we can get through the treatment with her lungs not being permanantly damaged.
          She was admitted to Utah Valley on monday morning for 48 hrs.  The first day we started on half the dose and then increased to full dose the following day. We had a great nurse, named Tassa, she loved and adored everything about Livy. The first night of treatment made her very wired and then she second day she was drowsy.  Her vitals stayed pretty normal, but it seemed like it made her cough tighter and we could see the affects on her lungs.  Every nurse loved her and she was definately the best behaved and if I may say so the "Cutest" kid there.  After about 24 hrs, I noticed her bump started going down and it started getting a little lighter in color.  It has been 1 wk now and each day it has improved dramatically.  We feel blessed at this point to have this treatment available to us and to have such great family and friends who have prayed for our little angel.

Dr. Anderson is her pediatrician and he did such a good job with the whole thing

Livy Loves her daddy more than anything, She even says, DADADA now and it truly melts Adam's heart.

 Grandma & Grandpa visited Livy multiple times in the hospital.  We are so lucky to have them!  They are always so loving and perfect with Livy.

Liz came over everyday she was there and even brought her the cutest little doll.  Adam named the doll Molly and Livy loves to hug and squeeze it.

My dad came as well and it was nice to have him there.  He is always such a support to me and talks to me daily about Livy's status, love you Dad!

This crib Livy was in was huge....I would sometimes go in with her and play...Yes I am a nerd!

HERE is the PROGRESS with her BUMP:

Start of treament

 48 hrs after treatment

 1 wk after start of treatment

We feel so blessed to be able to get this treated with such a new medication.  Thank you all for your prayers and support!  Before we know it Livy's bump will be gone, so excited for the day!

BYU Fun!

       BYU football has begun and even though our team is kind of a young team and this is a "building year," the Welch clan is still excited.  We went to the opening social and the games with pride.  Livy was born a BYU fan and she loves the game of football already at 7 months.  Here are some fun snapshots of this season so far:

We have started a new tradition to hike the "Y" every year around the first football game. This was Livy's first time hiking it and she did awesome!

This is Livy folding her arms to say a prayer for BYU to Rock. Well, all I can say is our prayers are always answered, but maybe it will be answered next year instead of this one..

GO COUGS! Livy is practicing her cheerleading skills!

Adam chattin it up with Luke Ashworth, my former schoolmate

Look at that hottie next to the cosmobile, I definately married up!!!! Love you Babe

Russ and Adam went in on a golf cart and painted it for the season.  We had a lot of fun driving it to the game and Livy/Cannon did great on it.

Tailgate party!

FACE PAINTING...

Little paw on one side and a Y on the other, what could be cuter than that? Nothing!

The Welch's bleed blue, even if the scoreboard is not on our side this season, GO COUGS!