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Michelle Duggar on Improvements and Possibly More Kids
Filed under: Celeb Kids, Celeb Parents, In The News, Media, Amazing Parents, Celeb News & Interviews
Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar, with baby Josie. Credit: Scott Enlow, TLC
Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar's 19th child is still dealing with digestive issues, but her family is optimistic about her outlook.
When Josie Brooklyn, the newest star of TLC's reality TV show, 19 Kids and Counting, was born on Dec. 10 at a gestational age of 25 weeks, she weighed just 1 lb., 6 oz. Now, she's making strides and weighs in at 5 lbs., 14 oz. Josie's adventures will be featured on the family's Mother's Day special on Sunday, May 9 at 8 p.m.
We talked exclusively with uber-Mom Michelle Duggar about life with the new baby, her plans for Mother's Day and how she teaches her kids to deal with naysayers.
ParentDish: Tell me about Josie. How did you come up with the name?
Michelle Duggar: When I was pregnant, we discussed with the family some name possibilities for a boy or girl. Everybody really liked Josie. Then Jessa mentioned the middle name Brooklyn and that's what it was.
PD: Have you been to Brooklyn, New York?
MD: Yes, we've been there! [Laughs]
PD: When you were pregnant, we held a ParentDish poll asking folks to vote on the next Duggar name and the one that won was Jillian, but I personally love the name Jewel.
MD: Jewel is a beautiful name. That's a great idea!
PD: A great idea for the next Duggar? Are you trying to tell me something? Are you planning another baby Duggar?
MD: I'm 43 right now and I know my time clock is ticking so I may be able to have more, I don't know. We are so grateful for the ones we have and I couldn't imagine life without one of these. They represent a future home one day, and will do whatever God calls for them to do in life. I would be thrilled to have more if God sees fit, but we take it one day at a time. Our focus is on Josie right now.
PD: How is she doing?
MD: She's doing great. We are so thankful. She's growing and gaining and that's what we need to happen for her. She has tummy issues that were working out right now. Our doctor said from the very beginning that having a preemie is a roller coaster ride. Parents in the NICU [neonatal intensive care unit] will tell you, 'never trust a preemie.' One day she'll do great and the next day she'll have a setback.
PD: What are the doctor's concerns right now?
MD: Josie loves to eat but she has some challenges pooing and you gotta do both to make it work right, so we have to figure that out. She's taking her feeds well and that thrills my heart. She's kind of at that place with preemies where she's trying to thrive on eating and growing. We're rejoicing because she's approaching the six-pound mark. Josie wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the Lord and the expertise of this facility [Arkansas Children's Hospital]. We are so grateful for every day we have with Josie.
PD: You are amazing for holding everything together. What are your guilty pleasures to help you decompress?
MD: At this season of life, it probably would be sleep. You go through different seasons of life as a mom and so I relish getting extra sleep here and there when I can. Josie is approaching five months and I have to breastfeed frequently, every three to four hours, so there's a lot of interrupted sleep. It's a supply-and-demand thing. I feed my babies on demand when they're newborns. Thankfully, my milk supply has been great.
PD: Switching roles, how's life as a first-time grandma?
MD: I am elated. I dreamed about the day I get to be a grandma. Mackynzie is a chunk, a rolly polly grandbaby. She's approaching seven months now and it's just so sweet. I had her sitting on my lap the other day and she was smiling and touching my face. So much fun being a grandma.
PD: What are your plans for Mother's Day?
MD: I actually don't know. I'll spend some time at the hospital with Josie. I don't know what the family has planned. I don't want to mess things up so I don't ask any questions because my little guys will say something they shouldn't, so I don't ask. We'll be at church in the morning. We go to the Friendly Chapel in Little Rock and Victory Baptist Church.
PD: Any Mother's Day gifts coming your way?
MD: Usually Jim Bob has something up his sleeve. Handmade cards are my favorite. Those are my keepsakes. Daddy will usually give the kids paper and the older girls will work with the younger ones to make special Mother's Day cards for me.
PD: Sweet. Breakfast in bed, too?
MD: They've attempted to make breakfast. That's been interesting. They know I like eggs over easy and they become scrambled over easy when the little guys try their hand at it. They're kinda crunchy. And the toast, they try to get it just the right color two or three times, then they load it with butter. I enjoy it and I eat it. I'm along for the ride.
PD: You have a ton of fans who wish you and the family all the best, especially on Mother's Day. But how do you deal with your detractors and the negative comments on the web?
MD: We receive a lot of feedback, positive and negative, and we've told our children who help with our correspondence that people have their opinions in life and we have to understand that people don't have the same perspective we do. They are entitled to their opinions and we always go back the same place.
PD: What do you mean?
MD: We know that this is where God has called us and we know everyone has their own calling and place in life. You're always going to have the negative naysayers and you're not going to please everyone. You please God and you seek to do what he's called you to do and you will have peace. When there are criticisms, you listen and you take that through the grid of God's words and ask if there's something you can learn from them.
PD: That's pretty hard to teach kids.
MD: We teach them to never just blow people off and not listen. If there's something that you need to change, that's fine, and if not and if it's off the course, move forward and don't get bogged down. You can't please everyone. There are so many things you come up against in life, but we do what God wants us to do in training and loving our kids. We will be the first to tell you we are not perfect. We are still learning every day, but we are finding our answers in God's words, and there's joy and peace and enjoying the fruit of that. As parents, we're all in this together and we're learning as we go along.
PD: What are your biggest challenges as a mom?
MD: Laundry, dishes. I had this mountain of laundry this week. We had gone a whole week without doing any and you can't do that. Keeping up with laundry is number one, and number two is keeping up with dishes and mealtime. Of course, keeping up with their hearts and just asking the kids how they're doing and what's going on and allow them the freedom of opening up and helping them navigate their years and keeping them grounded. All of those concerns are most important in life. We just have to keep at it and encourage them along the way.
Related: Michelle Duggar Chats About Morning Sickness.
For more on the Duggars, visit Duggarfamily.com.
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 34)
5-06-2010 @ 9:23PM
Wasn't born yesterday said...When are they going to tell us the kid has Down's?
5-06-2010 @ 11:29PM
Alt said...When exactly did it get to be socially acceptable to speak about a woman's vagina outside of an OBGyn office? Seriously people, it takes all kinds to make the world go round - thank god for that or we might all be like you. Mind your manners and mind your business.
5-08-2010 @ 12:34AM
Michelle in OK said...Jeanee, I find it amazing that all the negative people don't have it where we can reply. I'm not really replying to your comment, but to the ignorant people who write some of these reviews. I agree with you that these people are amazing. For those of you calling them stupid and other names, asking if they have jobs and saying you are tired of this family......obviously you are not tired of them or you wouldn't read up on them and comment on them. If they didn't matter to you, you wouldn't care, but you do. Yes he does have a job. Mr. Duggar and his wife are self sufficient, built their own house, have taught their children how to be self sufficient and to care for eachother. I may not totally agree with the oldest taking care of the youngest until they meet in the middle, but actually, that is old school. That is how it used to be done and the world was a much better place when it was done that way. Now, children are not taught the importance of family. I am the mother of 6. Children are not easy to raise, but God does give some of us the responsibility of more children than others, for a reason. I'm excited that their children will be out there in the world, making great wives and husbands. Thank you Duggar family. Thank you for standing on your faith and for your strength and thank you for those of you he praise them and see the good in their family.
5-08-2010 @ 3:39PM
Ian said...Jeanee are you kidding me??? Again: they are about as selfish as you can be! Billy-Joe-Jim-Bob and his baby making machine are about as selfish as you can get! Are they parenting those kids? Uhh...NO!!! It's the "buddy" system-mom spits 'em out and one of
the older children raises them. They're not just helping: they're responsible for the younger sibling. Nice! Whole lotta lovin' going on there, right? No time for socializng, sports or friends huh? Hell, why expose them to the real world, where one of those girls might actually decide that there's more to life than staring at the ceiling, being a mattress queen! Sadly I'm anticipating this dumpster to proclaim, soon, that she's once again pregnant. For the love of cheesecake just stop it.
5-13-2010 @ 12:23PM
Marie Hardnett said...I was so happy that Igot to read this. You ara great mom Michele.
6-01-2010 @ 8:15AM
TAMMY JO said...~I REALLY ENJOY THE SHOW & ALL THE KIDO'S, HOWEVER MY OPINION IS THEY SHOULD STOP CUZ HER BODY HAS 2 BE TIERD & DONE OF BABIES! I THINK BABY JOSIE IS BEAUTIFUL & WILL BE FINE BUT IF IT WERE ME I WOULD HAVE 2 SAY "DUNDO" I WILL ALWAYS WATCH THE SHOW CUZ I DO ENJOY THE DOWN 2 EARTH & DIFFERENCE THAT IT PUT'S OUT THERE, HEY WE LIVE ON "DUGGAR TIME" AS WELL,LOL!! SO JUST TAKE CARE MICHELLE & REST NOW, ENJOY THE KIDO'S U HAVE & U WILL HAVE MANY MORE GRAND BABIES COME & ENJOY THE RIDE GIRLFRIEND!!~
6-13-2010 @ 6:45PM
sheila said...You are so right!! The Duggars inspire me! All the kids are well behaved, and I love that they all help out. I have 4 kids and I sometimes feel overwhelmed, but Kudos to her for her love and devotion to her family!!
5-06-2010 @ 3:20PM
Amanda Edge said...I occasionally watch the show and I'm in awe of this family. Well behaved well adjusted children who love God and try to do the right thing. What more could you ask for?
Reply
5-06-2010 @ 3:34PM
gregg said...AmandaEdge: its called the magic of televison.
5-06-2010 @ 4:32PM
marie12345 said...Well behaved well adjusted children, your kidding. How would any of us know they are well behaved well adjusted children.
If you think back to when they were in NYC at Klinefild brides those kids were all over, under chairs, on top of chairs running wild that is not well behaved.
What kind of mother is she, the older children are raising the younger children. You always see the older children with a little one on their hip. Never see mommy with a child on her hip.
5-06-2010 @ 5:14PM
Barbara said...Heidi, Oh yes there will be room - just come to UTAH! They All have LOTS of room and LOTS of kids, and manage to find room OK
5-06-2010 @ 6:08PM
Tari said...She keeps speaking about God's calling. I guess her idea of God's calling is to make her family so preoccupied with themselves and their siblings, that they can't do community work or help others in need or stress? Did she make up her own calling of God? I can barely keep up with the needs of others let alone a family of 20. I am spiritual and trying to get better at it everyday, but I will never make up my own "God's" calling for me. She just likes to have sex.
5-06-2010 @ 6:28PM
Vicki said...I think the Duggar's are a wonderful example of God's Love in Action. I could never have that many children but Michelle has a special ANOINTING (look it up "naysayers: !) to do her job. Of course the media will knock anything that gives GOD glory, would y'all rather see kids stabbing people, drug busts, thefts and larceny ?? I hope Michelle will give herself a break and enjoy those lovely gifts lent to her from God, and enjoy her grandchildren !! We are praying for all of you ! :)..Vicki H.
5-06-2010 @ 6:38PM
Nick said...These freaks are disgusting...I have seen large families in my neigborhood..the mother does not tend to the children, the children take care of each other..I watched the show once...the mother is so self serving..parading around infront of the camera as if giving birth is own personal miracle while all the kids are taking care of the little ones..it makes me sick..kids need to be kids, NOT BABYSITTERS for a mother that is constantly pregnant...spay and neuter the parents
5-12-2010 @ 4:29PM
Talon said...Children who can perhaps think for themselves and not parrot their parents propaganda maybe? Children who don't think it's christmas in july when they get to spend "one on one" time with a parent because it's so rare possibly?? A family in touch with REALITY would be nice to see...
5-06-2010 @ 3:32PM
XxRosexOfxSharyn said...That poor baby is the one paying the most for their stupidity right now. The "tummy issues" that were described, I can't imagine that baby isn't in pain from that and then if she's being pumped with pain killers that only make stomach problems worse. I don't know if she is but any doctor i've had to deal with has had that attitude of trying to force you to. There's a very good chance this probably would've have happened if the poor kid wasn't born as a premie, and being one there's also a chance that she'll still have issues later in life. I know cause I was one and have read others stating the same. I can't imagine the fact this woman's body has been through that many births especially one right after the other can really have a positive impact on a baby's health, for all of those that will say it doesn't have a negative one. It makes me so mad reading stories about these people and then to hear that they would consider more?! You've got to be kidding me. If you want more kids, what's so wrong with adopting? I wonder if they even considered it!
Reply
5-06-2010 @ 3:58PM
j smith said...They would not adopt. They are fundamentalist Christians who believe in the 'quiver full' philosophy --- getting knocked up every 10 months is a gift from God.
5-06-2010 @ 4:05PM
Maria said...The baby's tummy issues are a condition called NEC (Necrotizing Enterocolitis). It doesn't matter if the mom is on the first child or 31st child or if the baby is a preemie or not. It can happen to any baby at any gestational age, but it does happen more frequently in premature newborns. I had my twins at 30 years of age and made it to 35 and a half weeks gestation. So, they were only a week and a half premature. My son still got NEC. It is a horrible and frightening condition and it can cause permanant intestinal issues or even death. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It is not something that Mrs. Duggar could have possibly prevented no matter what number of children she had previously given birth to. From what I understand, she had blood pressure issues and that is why she had to give birth prematurely. This happens everyday to moms at any age and with any number of children.
It isn't very kind of you or very intelligent of you to make mean spirited comments about something and someone you clearly don't know anything about.
5-06-2010 @ 5:34PM
Tiny said...XxRosexOfxSharyn: u r right.... so many kids need homes and she is just popping out babies all over the place... with that being said, with josie's health issues i do think it is a sign from god 2 not have any more babies, but with the older kids its teaching them responciblity, and all the children how 2 b patient....
5-06-2010 @ 5:56PM
Go Joy said...Exactly. We shut down puppy mills but it is ok for this woman to run a baby mill? It's disgusting that she behaves likes she's 4 years old herself, describing severe internal organ issues as "tummy" problems, as if the child has indigestion or something. The child's system is not functioning at all....and THIS IS AFTER MONTHS OF TREATMENT. Looking at that baby's face you can see the months of pain written all over her. And this woman is absolutely oblivious to it!
You simply CANNOT have it both ways...you can't claim you're doing only what God wills, and then at the same time use the secular services of a modern hospital which utilizes the latest man-made technology to keep a human body alive. It's hypocritical. If she wanted nature to run it's course, the baby would have been born and then not survived, as God had planned, without man's intervention.
This is exactly like the end-of-life debate, only in reverse. Keep the flesh alive no matter what the cost or the pain endured. Remember, God wills you to be in pain, that's the way these nuts look at it.