Baby #16 is on its way for Arkansas couple

by Dave (Blogsmith, old) (Subscribe to Dave (Blogsmith, old)'s posts) Jul 6th 2005 11:26AM

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who were featured on the Discovery Channel in a program called "14 children and pregnant again" are now 15 children...and pregnant again. In October, the Duggar family will welcome baby number 16 into the fray. The kids they have now range from age one to 17, including 10 boys, 5 girls, and two sets of twins. "We love children," Jim Bob Duggar said in an interview. "We consider each one a blessing from the Lord and we would both love to have some more."

The family has its own Web site which gives tips from both mom and dad about maintaining such a large family. They are currently building a 7000 square foot all steel home in Arkansas to fit their needs, including 4 washers, 8 dryers and 10 bathrooms. According to the news report linked below, the show about the Duggars' life was the highest rated show every on the Discovery Channel. The Discovery Channel is planning a new documentary called "15 and pregnant again."

Source

Comments (23)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

March 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I saw that show on the Discovery Channel, and I'll be honest and say I felt shame for the times I've complained about my load, with just one kid (and a very quiet and easy one...) and work and hubby...
We all can learn so much from this couple, I personally admire their spirit and strength and pray that I too can welcome the blessings given to me and educate them as well as this family has done with their kids.

Marci 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I think this is a great story. We have 3 different friends that each had their 10th baby within 5 weeks of each other. They are all well trained mature children. Yes, they are still children and there are still problems, but I would much rather watch their 10, than some people's one.

Nicola 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

Did you notice that all of the kids names start with the letter "J"? I'll stop there.

Angel 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I saw parts of that show. I have nothing against large families. But this particular family is....weird. I felt very unsettled at how the girls and women are treated. They won't have the freedom to be who they want to be.

ThreePts 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

Stop the insanity. They are only breeding a small army.

Heather 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I find this family so interesting, as my husband and I also believe our children to be a blessing from God and will have as many as He gives us. We've been married a little less than 5 years and are expecting our 3rd any day now.

The only thing that bugs me is the house that they're building. They apparently have the money for it and want to build it. But, I think it contributes to a mindset of needing a mansion to have a large family or even a medium sized one. Especially the 10 bathrooms and the 7000 square feet. We know a family with 5 children that manage quite well with 1 bathroom (though I'd prefer 2 in their position) and about 1600 square feet. Again, I admire this family, but I know that so many people hear about them and think that you have to have lots of money to have a large family.

Marcia J. Turner 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

My friend had a baby at home; and everything went extremely well.

My question is ... what happens next? It's been 5 days now-- and she is feeling stronger. The naval cord has fallen.

But there is no birth certificate... etc.

What are the legalities involved?

Can she wait until she is fully recovered before seeing a physician?

Marcia J. Turner 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

We live in Arkansas

shamgar50 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

These people are nuts. Any animal can breed.
To have more than 3 or 4 children is selfish.
There are too damn many people in the world. Every birth is another consumer.

Janel 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

To shamgar50, I feel these people are doing a our country a great justice! We need more people like them to counter act all the hoodlums being born.
I bet you not one of the Dugger kids will end up in trouble with the law!!

KANDI 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I think it is wonderful and a blessing from God that the Duggars are able to have so many children. I pray to be blessed w/a large family, but unfortunately as of yet my prayers are not answered. These parents should be commended for instilling a belief that "FAMILY COMES FIRST". Also as a member of a family where all the children's names start w/ the same letter I find it creative that they are able to find them. CONGRATS to the whole family,

KANDI 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I think it is wonderful and a blessing from God that the
Duggars are able to have so many children. I pray to be blessed w/a large
family, but unfortunately as of yet my prayers are not answered. These parents
should be commended for instilling a belief that "FAMILY COMES FIRST". Also as
a member of a family where all the children's names start w/ the same letter I
find it creative that they are able to find them. CONGRATS to the whole family,

KANDI 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I think it is wonderful and a blessing from God that the
Duggars are able to have so many children. I pray to be blessed w/a large
family, but unfortunately as of yet my prayers are not answered. These parents
should be commended for instilling a belief that "FAMILY COMES FIRST". Also as
a member of a family where all the children's names start w/ the same letter I
find it creative that they are able to find them. CONGRATS to the whole family,

Anna 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I know this family where I live and they have 8 girls and 1 boy they are begin with "J"'s. The parents name also begins with J. The girl names are Jessica,Jillian(RIP), Joanna, Janelle, Julie, Josie, Janessa,Jamie and the boys name is Joel!!

Erik Peterson 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

What a great family! The Duggar's are truely blessed. I think one key to this families success is the efficiency they gain from home school. Can you imagine trying to keep up with 16 kids in public schools! No way.

Wouldn't you like to see their home plans. Seems to me that a boy's locker room and a girl's locker room would be better than 9-10 bathrooms.

April 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I am 25 yrs old and have had four children. I have a 6 yr old girl, a 5 yr old boy (11 months apart), a 3 year old boy, and a 19 month old girl. When I had my three year old, the state took him from me when he was 2 days old and I never got him back, it was for very unfotunate circumstances. I have my other three children, and the reason I share this information is this...if the Duggar family wants 16 children, or 20 children, why does it matter so long as they can afford them, give them what they need. Yeah, the house might be a little big, but if they can afford a house that size, then obviously they can support their family. I don't think it's selfish, and I dont think that this family should be degraded for having so many kids. My 3 yr old just celebrated his 3rd birthday with another family October 9th, and alot of people say "I don't know how you do it with three kids", but the truth is, I would give anything to have my 3 yr old back, but the family he is with adopted him this past March. So, I say, if the Duggar family can have all these kids, then more support to them, and those out there degrading them, I think thats unfair.

Michelle 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I have three kids. I must say I think they are blessed. I am blessed with my 3 kids one has health problems that may take her from us one day. She has gone through so much.
The duggars are, in a way, lucky to have healthy kids, whether it is just one child or 20.

Michelle 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

Jennifer 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I think this family is great! I've made our children (we have 5 so far) watch the show on Discovery Channel a couple of times. They have great family dynamics. I strive to be a great mom like Michelle.
Hey shamgar50 - I'm trying to figure out how having more than 3 or 4 children could be considered "selfish"?? Have you ever had children? If anything, having more than the average 2-4 kids should be considered extremely UN-selfish. That's HARD work to bring up all those kids to be good children, students and citizens of society. I consider selfish parents the ones who would rather have a fancy house, car and/or vacations instead of welcoming more children into their family.
Oh, by the way, the world is not over-populated. That is a complete myth, please research it.

Lori 12-18-2005 @ 6:55PM

I am the eldest of 7 children (ranging from 19 to 5), and I know lots of other families with many children (my aunt is on #8, as is our pastor's wife). We have a great time together and are best friends!!! I love big families and when I get married I am hoping to have a MINIMUM of 5... It is not selfish at all; in fact, we have to learn to serve each other, or else we wouldn't be able to get along.

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