posted on October 12, 2005 04:28:32 PM new
Arkansas Mother Gives Birth to 16th Child
Oct 12, 4:16 PM (ET)
By MELISSA NELSON
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Michelle Duggar just delivered her 16th child, and she's already thinking about doing it again.
Johannah Faith Duggar was born at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and weighed 7 pounds, 6.5 ounces.
The baby's father, Jim Bob Duggar, a former state representative, said Wednesday that mother and child were doing well.
He said Johannah's birth was especially exciting because it was the first time in eight years the family has had a girl.
Jim Bob Duggar, 40, said he and Michelle, 39, want more children.
"We both just love children and we consider each a blessing from the Lord. I have asked Michelle if she wants more and she said yes, if the Lord wants to give us some she will accept them," he said.
The Discovery Health Channel filmed Johannah's birth and plans to air a show about the family of 18 next May.
The Learning Channel is doing another show about the family's construction project, a 7,000-square foot house that should be finished before Christmas. The home, which the family has been building for two years, will have nine bathrooms, dormitory-style bedrooms for the girls and boys, a commercial kitchen, four washing machines and four dryers.
Jim Bob Duggar, who sells real estate, previously lost his bid for the U.S. Senate. He said he expects to run for the state Senate next year but isn't ready to make a formal announcement.
Michelle Duggar had her first child at age 21, four years after the couple married.
Their children include two sets of twins, and each child has a name beginning with the letter "J": Joshua, 17; John David, 15; Janna, 15; Jill, 14; Jessa, 12; Jinger, 11; Joseph, 10; Josiah, 9; Joy-Anna, 8; Jeremiah, 6; Jedidiah, 6; Jason, 5; James, 4; Justin, 2; and Jackson Levi, 1.
posted on October 12, 2005 04:29:25 PM new
She DOES have a hobby!!
____________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." -- George W. Bush
posted on October 12, 2005 05:47:42 PM new
I've seen articles about this AR family in the past. Personally I wouldn't have the patience to raise that many children. I'd be in a straight-jacket in some mental hospital, I'm sure. lol
BUT I think it's wonderful there are couples, like these two, who do cherish and want children to this extent....even in these numbers. I feel these children are very fortunate to have loving, caring parents who feel they're a 'gift' rather than a burden in life and who can afford to raise them.
Besides....it's a wonderful way to enjoy their 'hobby'.
posted on October 12, 2005 06:34:53 PM new
I don't know about this family, but what I'd like to find out is how can they afford so many? I can't imagine what kind of money they have to be bringing in or are relying on the church or others to help support them?
posted on October 12, 2005 06:49:57 PM new
Been a looooong time now, but back when I was in parochial school, there were a few families that had 12 children. I think for some it was a goal to get to 12, they used to give free tuition to that child, and the Bishop would baptise the 12th child. And I remember 2 of those families well. One was a hard working father, and the other, both parents worked.
posted on October 12, 2005 06:55:20 PM new
Back in the Fifty's I remember watching one of the few daytime shows, and they had a family on with 36 children.
Never heard of anyone with more,to date.
posted on October 12, 2005 09:39:05 PM new
Somewhere in the last year I saw a special about this family. The father is doing a lot of the building himself, with the help of his bred-to-work sons in their teens.
Back in my former life, I worked for Planned Parenthood in a western state pretty much devoted to large families (you probably can guess which one). Some of our patients were women of that predominant religion who came in wearing their long muu-muus. Their stories were all the same (tears in their eyes): We have 10, 12, 14 children. My husband wants us to have more. My insides are a mess and I simply cannot give birth one more time and keep my sanity. Please give me a birth control method he can't detect.
Their physical exams showed that their insides were truly a mess (women reading this can only imagine). We gave them birth control and our blessing.
posted on October 13, 2005 06:55:03 AM newWe gave them birth control and our blessing.
roadweary: how can you 'give' somebody a blessing when all youve got is judgementalness to offer??
I dont think you quite understand what a blessing is, or where it comes from.
But then again, youre one of those people that writes a bunch of sh* as if everything is a PR release, or just because you think it sounds good. All the while never really in posssession of the meaning behind the words you use.
posted on October 13, 2005 09:34:20 AM new
Double, these women and men need to have their heads slapped. To think that God keeps blessing them with all these children, is ludicrous. They might as well shout to the world "we have no common sense!" as they don't see themselves as part of the problem.
posted on October 13, 2005 09:40:40 AM new
KD - That's your opinion....but not the opinion held by many religious couples. Sure don't understand why their choices bother you. Aren't you the one who keeps telling us people should be allowed to do WHATEVER they want to if it doesn't hurt anyone else? But you sure feel differently on this subject. It's their choice, their business....no one else's.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on October 13, 2005 09:54:12 AM new
But that's just it, Linda. People who make decisions based on weird religious beliefs appear to many like they're not thinking rationally. I know how much things cost - who pays their medical and dental bills? Who pays for food? What about University or College at approx. $200K each? Reminds me of that lady who had 6 kids at once - maybe it was 7, point is, that family depended on help from others to be able to afford these childen. How greedy can you get? Do abandoned babies and orphans get this kind of special treatment? They need to use their heads - have a couple of your own, but if you can afford it, adopt. Don't keep having kids because you're too stupid to stop having sex or because you think God encourages this. Besides themselves, these people make God look stupid too, imo.
posted on October 13, 2005 10:05:54 AM new
Again, KD, those are your opinions.....which disagree with their own and that of their different faiths.
They could care less what your opinion is, nor that of anyone else. Just like you don't care that others judge women like you who choose to remain childless in an 'odd' light/way. Thinking that's totally un-natural and against Nature itself.
But you liberals keep having abortions....keep deciding not to have any children and soon our Nation will only have people who believe in allowing freedom of religion and freedom of choice to exist. And not be such controllers of what others 'should' do with their own lives.
This particular husband sells realestate for a living. Like most agents he probably makes pretty good money here in the US. It's THEIR choice KD, whether you agree or not. I just find it funny that you always object to what others choose to do...but when it's something YOU agree with...it's a different set of rules. THEN everyone should allow or agree with how you see things.
Truth is....that's not the way the world is....and you're not going to be changing it no matter how you'd like to.
posted on October 13, 2005 10:08:18 AM new
KD - I also find it a very clear double standard that the liberals have no problem with all of us paying to support and care for the 'poor' who've decided to continue to bring children they can't afford into the world....yep...we should all pay for their decisions, according to most liberals.....but when a family CAN and does want and afford more children...that upsets some people.
edited to add:
You have no right to place your value system on them just like they'd have no right to force you to have children against your will. It's no different, KD, it's called freedom of choice....something most American's enjoy having in a free country.
posted on October 13, 2005 10:18:53 AM new
Linda, I guess I see this religious breeding program as nothing more than a severe case of narcissism at God's expense. If they are as religious as they claim, they would know that God would rather they adopt 16 poor and homeless children than show no self-control or sense of logic.
posted on October 13, 2005 10:22:34 AM new
KD - Guess what??? You don't speak FOR God....you aren't God...and you don't have the right to tell THEM what God would want them to do. They have their own beliefs and opinions on what their God tells them....you aren't needed as a translator.
It's their life....and their choices to make.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on October 13, 2005 10:28:24 AM new
Of course, that's true, KD. But what I've trying to convey to you is that if YOU are worried about all the children who need to be adopted....then YOU go adopt them. Don't try to use something you haven't been interested in doing yourself to say you would want them to do it...rather than having their own children. Some people do adopt...rather than having their own....some don't want to....again THEIR choice.
posted on October 13, 2005 10:30:29 AM new
For all we know, they just want a lot of children, not something that they say God is telling them to do.
I can't find though, how much the man makes, though none of my business, I guess its curiosity I read he is in real estate, and they are finishing their 7000 sq ft home! Damn!
How would you like to cook and wash clothes for 18 people?
posted on October 13, 2005 10:32:36 AM new
No maggie, not imo. There are also lefties who are religious and don't believe in allowing the murdering of innocent babies either.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on October 13, 2005 10:37:33 AM new
"How would you like to cook and wash clothes for 18 people?
Near - It's been my own experience around these large families that everyone helps in the normal chores....and the mother usually plays the part of the 'supervisor' in the scheduling of those same chores. I've never known a large family where the women is expected/or does all the work herself.
And I've even seen Jewish families of 5 do it the same way. It just depends on how each family decide to run their own home.
posted on October 13, 2005 10:40:07 AM new
Linda, sorry if you don't like my way of thinking but that's the way it is. There are thousands of starving, homeless babies and children in the world that could use some of the love these people seem to have an abundance of (their ususal justification for having lots of children. And being the Christians they are, wouldn't their first choice be adoption if they're as Christian as they claim? Wouldn't they want to take care of some of these starving children first and put their own wants on the back burner if they are true Christians?
posted on October 13, 2005 10:48:06 AM new
KD - I totally understand this is the way you see it. I just happen to find it funny that you'd like to impose standards/requirements on religious people to do things you haven't wanted to do yourself.
Should we also force YOU to adopt two or three children....those children who so need your love? How would you feel if we could? That's what I'm saying. When people WANT to do something, they will. And they won't when they don't.
For you, a non-Christian, to tell Christians what YOU want or think they should do is nothing more than arrogance on your part. You don't make decisions for anyone other than yourself.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on October 13, 2005 11:04:43 AM new
Linda, I don't want to impose my beliefs on anyone. I'm just sharing my views on the subject. I have a problem trying to understand some people who call themselves Christians and are so self-indulgent and hyprcritical that they don't realize they give the word Christianity a bad name.
And being the smart cookie I've always been, I decided early that I couldn't afford a child if I was to raise it properly. I sure wanted one though!
posted on October 13, 2005 11:20:03 AM new
well dang, I didn't plan mine, but had them. Seemed like we shouldn't have been able to afford them, but we sure made do, and I never used the gov't for food or cash. And my children were not lacking for anything.
Linda, yes, I have been around large families, and the children all had chores. I came from a family of 5 children (my mother had miscarried about 3) and we all had chores, even though my father made enough to afford help, we never had it, only in the last year of my mothers life we had help, and a gardener. (she was bedridden then)
