“We are thrilled to announce that we found out we’re expecting our 19th child,” a glowing Michelle Duggar told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira Tuesday from the family’s home in Springdale, Ark.(MSNBC)
Duggar 19th Child
I’ve always wanted a big family. But by big, I mean four or five kids, not 19 or 20! The Duggar family is working on number 19, just eight months after baby number 18. After so many little ones, Michelle Duggar thought she had the game figured out. But, she had no idea this time.
The time frame between Duggar babies has usually been about 18 months in the past, not eight. But after the pregnancy weight was stubbornly not coming off, and her youngest wouldn’t nurse without a fuss, Duggar took a pregnancy test, and at 42-years-old learned that she was pregnant again. Surprised? Not really.
(According to a comment on MSNBC.com, that would mean that Michelle Duggar has been “pregnant for 126 months — or 10.5 years — of her life!” –Thanks Susan)
The ironic thing is that baby number 19 will be just a few months older than their oldest son’s first child. Josh and Anna Duggar are expecting their first child next month, while their mother Michelle will pop another one out a few months later..jpg "The Duggar Family Expecting")
For their hit show, it’s probably going to be a ratings booster for a short time. For the Duggar family, it’s going to be just another day in paradise. And for the fans who watch the show every week, it’s just another Duggar.
Good-Old-Fashioned Christian Values
The Duggar family has an interesting story when it comes to family planning. Like most large families, you would assume that they follow a strict Christian path and steer away from any contraceptive practices. But, that wasn’t always the case for Jim and Michelle Duggar.
Jim, from a small family with two other siblings, and Michelle, from a larger family with just eight children, actually used the pill as contraceptive during the first years of their marriage. They did take a break and plan Josh, their first born, and then went back on the pill. It was then that Michelle got pregnant again and lost the baby due to a rough miscarriage. When their family physician told them it was because of the pill, they decided it was time to go all-natural, disposing of the pill forever and leaving it in God’s hands.
While many of us can barely pay our mortgage and keep dinner on the table for our small families right now, the Duggar family claims to spend only $2,000 a month in food for the family of 20, and has no debt. With the real estate industry not pulling in what it used to, I’m curious to know how the Duggar family can support such a large family. According to sources, Jim and Michelle have many commercial real estate investments which bring in enough money.
The Duggar’s and Health Insurance
How about health insurance? How does a family of 20 afford health insurance? Check out this transcript from the April 13, 2009 Larry King Interview. (Behar stepped in for King who was out sick)
BEHAR: Of course. According to the latest issue of “People Magazine,” you guys only pay — the Duggar family, the 18 kids, you only pay 417 dollars a month for health insurance. How do I get on that plan? Because that’s a lot of people on that health insurance for 475. That’s pretty good.
JB. DUGGAR: Well, it is, but actually, we have, like, a 2,500 deductible, and then also it doesn’t cover maternity. There’s several different things it doesn’t cover.
J. DUGGAR: And I’m not on the plan anymore, so yes.
BEHAR: Does it include dental? You need dental also, right? All those kids.
JB. DUGGAR: Dental, it covers about half of the dental costs.
BEHAR: I’m sure there are braces and everything else, right? Do you think it will be –
JB. DUGGAR: That’s been out of pocket.
It sounds a lot like the No Insurance Club, doesn’t it? Well, if it works for the Duggar family with 18 kids, why not you? Check it out at http://www.noinsuranceclub.com.
