Duggars Take Baby 19 Home From the Hospital

by Colleen Egan (Subscribe to Colleen Egan's posts)
Apr 7th 2010 12:19PM

The littlest Duggar is heading home. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's 19th child, daughter Josie Brooklyn, has been released from the hospital after spending four months in the neonatal intensive care unit.

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"We are so happy," Michelle Duggar says. "We are so excited, we are running on adrenaline."

Josie Brooklyn weighed just 1 pound, 6 ounces when she was born on Dec. 10, and survived a bowel perforation at eight days old, People.com reports. Josie now weighs 4 pounds, 9 ounces, is breathing without oxygen, eating every three hours and stable enough to go home, says her physician, Dr. Robert Arrington.

Josie was released from the Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock on April 6, and the Duggars will remain in a rental home nearby indefinitely until they are ready to take the little girl home to Tontitown, Ark., People.com reports. According to a Duggar spokesperson, the time frame for the family to return to Tontitown could be anywhere between a week and a month.

"I will be her main caregiver," Michelle Duggar says, "and we'll have a lot of helpers around to take turns feeding her and getting her to sleep."

The youngest Duggar children -- Jackson, 5, Johanna, 4, Jennifer, 2, and Jordyn, 15 months -- have never seen Josie in person and "are jumping up and down that they will finally get to meet their baby sister," Michelle Duggar tells People.com.

Related: Michelle Duggar Chats About Morning Sickness And Her In-House Organizer

ReaderComments (Page 5 of 13)

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4-07-2010 @ 4:16PM

Sue said...

I am glad the baby is fine, but so--they had ANOTHER child. The show does show people how to buy used, make and do as much as possible yourself, get free trips so the places have free advertisement and exploit their children just like everyone said about the Gosslins. No one is saying here,"are the parents saving money for the children's school" oh that's right they are home schooling. ANOTHER savings, don't send children to school, teach them at home where they will be safe. Still do the 19 for now children have a savings account? You demanded the Gosslins have one. Big deal. TV is getting so boring.

4-07-2010 @ 5:08PM

Leslie said...

They are not on any government assistance, they take care of themselves, and are not in debt! They own everything they have, they are a great example, if they want that many children and take care of them, so what?

4-07-2010 @ 5:28PM

DN said...

Then why did they need a fundraiser to help with hospital bills since they are so 'frugal'. SPAY AND NEUTER!!!

4-07-2010 @ 4:18PM

RJones said...

Now the hard work begins and Little "J" will need every prayer and good thought sent her way. Now time will tell about the "deficets" she may have to deal with all her life.
Premies have a slew of prob later.
I hope she does well.

4-07-2010 @ 7:05PM

Lisa Green said...

you'll have to direct that question to: Janna, Jil,l Jessa or Jinger-since they are the ones who take care of the duggar children....i would love to send those 4 girls to Hawaii for ten days WITHOUT parents or chaperones-i dont think they would ever come back-to baby haven.....

4-07-2010 @ 4:35PM

wifey said...

I am not a Christian, but I believe in God. The Christians don't own God... he belongs to us all. The Christians have Jesus.

I have seen the Duggar's show. They are very good parents and very resourceful people. I couldn't do what they do and wouldn't want to, but they do what they do very well.

Prayers that the baby will grow up healthy and strong.

4-07-2010 @ 5:56PM

PackerMama said...

I say enough is enough! I am glad that Josie gets to go home, I am, however these people are using their kids (just like Jon & Kate did) to gain fame and fortune. They are handling it better than most, but come on, really??? Oh, a word for those who think that preeclampsia and pre-term birth are a result of too many pregnancies, you need to know it can happen to ANY woman at ANY stage, on ANY pregnancy, you should educate yourself before speaking.

4-07-2010 @ 4:26PM

beegee911 said...

When time began, God said..."Be fruitful and multiply"...I really don't think he means it in today's times..Good luck to the Duggar Family...

4-07-2010 @ 4:50PM

i dont think he meant for ONE family to populate the entire world, either--they better thank their G_D they dont live in China...

4-07-2010 @ 4:24PM

richard said...

WELL I GLAD TO SEE BIG FAMILY BUT I'M CURIOUS WHOM IS PAYING THE MEDICAL BILLS I HOPE THEY HAVE INSURANCE TO COVER THESE MEDICAL BILLS OR IS IT FREE MEDICAL CARE FROM OBUMA I THINK HOW MUCH MY CHILDREN COST SEVEN WAS A PRETTY PENNY EXCESS ONES BORN WILL IN ARMY

4-07-2010 @ 5:34PM

wetnsilkie said...

Didn't you here? They had to have a 'fundraiser' to offset their bills. I thought these people were so self sufficient with their 'rental 'properties and in no debt? I wonder if they will have another 'fundraiser' for # 20. Michelle, keep it closed, JB, keep it in your pants!

4-07-2010 @ 4:40PM

Lorraine said...

God bless them all! I agree the premie baby and the health hazards for Michelle should be a warning to stop! She needs to be here to help raise those precious souls!

4-07-2010 @ 4:53PM

annie said...

congratulations to the duggar family. they are my heroes.

i have watched their program several times, and the family is wonderful. all the children are raised with good values [which sadly is lacking in many households here in the united states!].

yes, the older ones take care of the newer ones, but if one looks into our past, they would see that historically this happened during pioneer times, too. it seems to be a modern culture phenomena that, in some families, older children do not take care of the younger ones. but then again, many families today have only one or two children.

4-07-2010 @ 4:39PM

debsfun said...

does this woman know about birth control?my mom han 15 kids,but 11 lived i don"t see how they can handel it,i have 3 and it was rough,omg!!!

4-07-2010 @ 4:37PM

ruth said...

Congratulations, my prayers have been sent to you and the family. The kids are great and so kind to each other. Thanks for many entertaining hours watching them. Hugs Ruth

4-07-2010 @ 4:38PM

sue said...

my maternal grandmother had 12 children in 21 years, she lived to be 83. my faternal grandmother had 14 children in 22 years, she lived to be 81. michelle has many good years to share with her family.

4-07-2010 @ 4:42PM

Rosa said...

Glad the baby is doing fine but hope it is the last. As I have said before, those older girls are baring the brunt of caring for the young children. I wish they could "get a life!!!"

me said...

I think they should quit now.All children are healthy and taken care of well.It least they dont have the goverment suport they Children.

4-07-2010 @ 4:44PM

Silverbelle said...

They seem like nice people and I am glad the baby is going home. Why can they not practice their faith and just "count the days". It is a way to control pregnancy and it is natural. I dont think others in the faith have 19 kids....But bottom line, it is a free country and they are paying their way...just hope they consider the health of the mother.

Lisa said...

Although I'm not comfortable with Michelle and Jim Bob's intentional baby making, I am soo impressed with the children. They come across as personable and lively, not robotic and definitely not as sheltered as I thought they would be. One of the older daughters (the one with the curliest hair) was asked what she would do if she were to get a lot of money and her reply was, " buy an Escalade!". It was the last thing I expected her to say, I was expecting something a bit more, oh shall we say, religious?

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