Michaela's delivery was fast and easy.  We weren't in the hospital 15 minutes before she was born!  Of course, believing everything happens for a reason, delivery was a breeze because the next week wouldn't be.  Because of the quick delivery, Michaela swallowed amniotic fluid and contracted  congenital pneumonia.  Since she was born on a Friday, it took until Monday morning for the head pediatrician on duty to drop a 1950's medical text in our laps with horrifying pictures and statistics of institutionalized RTS children and make the recommendation that Michaela be transferred to University of  California, San Francisco to be evaluated by a genetics team and cardiovascular team.

Keep in mind, this is all happening the week of Christmas.  With family gatherings, presents to wrap, a three year old to enthrall. . .a new house not yet  two weeks lived in. . . life was NOT going according to plan.  Sitting in our new living room Christmas morning, an empty cradle next to me, and curious new neighbors; it was all I could do to get through Christmas morning and head up to the hospital.  Our Christmas prayers were answered, we could take Michaela home the next morning!


The first two weeks at home with her were difficult feeding wise.  She couldn't latch on and nurse for an  extended period of time.  I was very nervous, not knowing if this was the feeding difficulties they talked to us about, or just regular nursing problems after having gotten used to the bottle in the hospital.  After a couple very frustrating days, I consulted the midwife who had taught our birthing classes.  She confirmed that Michaela was simply nipple confused; my worst fears (on that issue) were over.  After a week and a half of nursing and supplementing with an eye dropper, she finally got the nursing thing down and hasn't looked back since!

Michaela was a full term baby, her RTS traits that caused her to be diagnosed were the usual broad thumbs and toes, birthmark on forehead, excessive hair, small head, slanted eyes, 11 pairs of ribs, small heart murmur, enlarged kidneys, and several other characteristics that only a doctor could determine.  Thankfully,  Michaela did not have any major medical problems. Although we did return to the hospital 2 1/2 months later  with another bout of congenital pneumonia, she's been relatively healthy since.  Her heart murmur and enlarged kidneys have both resolved themselves.  She will have to have surgery to stabilize the ligament in her thumbs so she will be able to pinch small objects easier. 

Michaela is the sweetest, friendliest, most easy going baby I've ever met.  She's friends with everyone and LOVES to socialize.  The highlight of her day is when someone visits or someone new walks into the room!  I always say, "She may be small, but she has more personality than most adults I know."  She loves for her big sister to play with her or dance or sing for her.  She likes to watch Teletubbies, Elmo's World, and Blue's Clues (she has a crush on Steve :o).)  But her all time favorite activity is bouncing!  But I see bouncing is slowly being left behind in a grave effort on her part to MOVE; be that crawling, rolling, stretching or throwing herself toward a desired object.

When Michaela was five months old she began Early Intervention classes once a week where she works in a group of children with occupational therapists, speech therapists, and special education teachers.  She also has one-on-one occupational therapy once a week.  We are in the process of getting one-on-one physical therapy  added to her weekly classes also. 

At 15 months, Michaela can sit up well (although she still occasionally likes to throw herself back), likes to roll to her stomach, get on all fours, and really CONSIDER crawling. . . but not there yet.  She says, "mama" and "more," signs "more," "all done," and  "up."  She jabbers up a storm!  And when she flashes that smile, watch out, it melts hearts!

Wendy Mibach (April 1999)