<p>Well, obviously she did not know she would need c-sections ahead of time and they have never stated (to my knowledge) that part of their religion involved denying surgical intervention. I think it’s a completely consistent position for them to take medical steps to save a life that they value.</p>
<p>Okay will admit I just read the recent book they wrote about their views on living debt-free, child rearing, etc. Not that I agree with their overly religious take on everything, but they are a very frugal family (hence can live w/in their means), have raised respectful, decent children. That said, all are home schooled in very basic education. No plans for college, girls appear to be reared to marry and be subservient to husbands. </p>
<p>I am not at all surprised they are expecting already. Josh and Anna are just following example of how Josh was raised. Jim Bob and Michelle started out selling used cars from their house as they started their family. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…</p>
<p>"Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree… "</p>
<p>I don’t think those apples are allowed to get very far from the tree. I’m trying to imagine the fuss if one of the daughters decided she wanted to go to NYU… spend a year abroad in Paris, and then maybe law school.</p>
<p>Agree Dragonmom. All the Duggar’s are so sheltered from the “real” world. They occasionally travel and see other places, but don’t explore on their own. They travel as a family unit. I imagine they discuss all the deplorable things they see on their travels that don’t jibe w/their family beliefs. </p>
<p>I would be shocked if any those kids wanted to go to college. I doubt it even crosses their minds.</p>
<p>Without money from TV, I doubt they are able to live debt free. They had been renting a 3 bedroom house before they moved into the present house which had been in “construction” phase for man years due to lack of funds. However, right after they started their reality show, almost immediately the house magically gets finished.</p>
<p>Am not defending the family, but agree the house project got finished due to donations from Discovery channel, etc. That said, from the book, the reason it was taking so long was because they only did what they could pay for, so of course, a house that big was not going to be built overnight. The Duggar’s also were very gracious and thankful for all the donations that enabled the house to be finished, decorated and furnished. All donors got a mention by name.</p>
<p>As a family that also believes in “pay as you go” I like their honesty about how they afford to live as they do. Am not as frugal as them, but certainly worked hard and saved to get where we are today, just like they have.</p>
<p>TV show didn’t come around until well after they were an extra large family, and already debt-free.</p>
<p>In stark contrast to the ungrateful Kate and her dismissing of many gifts raised by her father from his church–which lead to their current estrangement. Run while you still can John.</p>
<p>Both the mom and the dad have real estate licenses. They own several rental properties which supplement their income.</p>
<p>I loved the visit to the Creationist Museum with the “yeah, right… this makes sense” comments from the other museum guests. But they’re happy in their reality and not a burden on the government, so live and let live. Gotta think the sugar coating is at least in part due to any sourness being left on the cutting room floor.</p>
<p>The Duggars just announced on one of the morning shows that she is 3 mos pregnant with her 19th child. Words fail me.</p>
<p>How old is she now??</p>
<p>rofl There was speculation that she was pregnant again. I think she is 43-44 now.</p>
<p>We were kind of hoping that some of the older kids were getting married, instead of yet another child. The 1st grandchild is due in October.</p>
<p>The show is fascinating to me. Their friends, the Bates have 16 (?).</p>
<p>And all the kids are home-schooled …</p>
<p>She turns 43 in September. They married in 1984. Oldest child is a son, age 21, married, with a kid on the way too.</p>
<p>Given how well spoken and behaved the kdis are, the home schooling seems to be working well. Much more impressive than the sometimes dunder-headed Roloff kids–except the girl.</p>
<p>Oh so the roloff kids, one who is a little person and the other son who has learning disabilities, lets disparage them.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the books the duggars use for homeschooling? Mr duggur markets them, and they are just bland, biblically based, simple and will not give those kids much advantage when it comes to college, something that doesn’t seem to be at all on the duggar radar. The girls are basically the fulltime nannies to those oddles of toddlers. </p>
<p>Read about Quiverful. That is the duggar mindset.</p>
<p>I would rather some kids with imagination and spunk than the autotrons that are the duggar kids. Loved when they went to the creationist “museum”. That was eye popping. If you have 18 kids and not ONE wants to step out of the box, you have created robots.</p>
<p>she could have another 10 more child bearing years ahead of her. I’m 48 and if I hadn’t been ‘fixed’, could still get pregnant.</p>
<p>Back in the good old days, my husband’s great-grandmother had 27 or 28 children, she lost 13 of them all at once in a hurricane, then had an entire other family.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine how one woman could have that many pregancies (or 19 either) without having so much pelvic floor relaxation that she needed gyn surgery. Where’s Sunnyflorida?</p>
<p>Cangel, what an awful calamity in your family history. I can’t imagine living through such a tragedy.</p>
<p>I do have a biological question about Mrs. Duggar and her remaining fertile years. Given that she’s been pregnant so much (and this will be her 17th pregnancy; she has two sets of twins), will she continue to ovulate longer than us mere mortals who had two or three children? I mean, she must have lots of eggs left since she hasn’t shed them during her twenties and thirties. Or does the estrogen dry up anyway, even though she’s been pregnant for probably 15 years total??</p>
<p>Where IS Sunny? So many questions for her!</p>