Duggar Family Blog: Updates and Pictures Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar 19 Kids and Counting

Duggar #15 Turns 9

2013-05-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

"14 Children and Pregnant Again," the first Discovery channel special starring the Duggar family, featured the birth of Jackson Levi. Today he is celebrating his 9th birthday.

Happy birthday, Jackson!

Outdoor Playtime

2013-05-22T15:42:00.003-05:00

One of the Duggar kids' favorite pastimes--after they finish their daily studies, of course--is playing outside. In the following TLC webisode, Jeremiah gives viewers a tour of the family's yard.

Season Finale Recap

2013-05-21T21:42:00.000-05:00

Tonight on the season finale of 19 Kids and Counting, "Baby Gender Reveal & the Final Weigh In"...

Mackynzie tries to bribe Mr. Jim to reveal the gender of Anna's baby early, offering to give him her monkey. Mr. Jim won't budge.
One Sunday morning, the entire family visits Restoration Church, where Jim Bob and Josh's personal trainer attends. In cahoots with Jim, Pastor Howard reveals the gender of grand-Duggar #3 to the entire congregation. He ties the announcement into his sermon on family relationships: "I'm just so excited to let you in on our little secret, that you're having a baby boy," he tells Josh and Anna after calling them up to the front.
Anna says she would have been happy either way but was secretly hoping for a boy. She and Josh have chosen a name but are not announcing it.
The service is "peppier" than the Duggars' home church, by they enjoy seeing how other people worship the Lord. "We were definitely expecting it to be lively and just a different style of worship, and it was," says Jill.
Jim Bob, Michelle, Josh, and Anna meet with their doctor for the results of the weight-loss challenge. Josh is still overweight but is no longer considered obese. Jim Bob's health has also improved, but his triglycerides are still high. For both men, this is just the beginning of a long journey.
The day before Jim Bob and Josh's final workout, personal trainer Steve Conley gathers the family in the living Josh and divides them into two teams, with Grandma Duggar on Steve's team.

Team Jim Bob

Michelle

Joseph

Jana

Josie

Jeremiah

Jessa

Jordyn

Joy-Anna

Jason

Justin

Johannah

Team Josh

Anna

John-David

Jill

Michael

Jedidiah

Jinger

Mackynzie

Josiah

James

Jackson

Jennifer

The final workout is an obstacle course. Most of the family gets away with fun tasks, like walking across balance beams, riding bikes, pushing utility vehicles, eating pickles, and changing doll diapers. Jim Bob and Josh have to race through a challenging course spanning across one acre.
At the end, Jim Bob grabs the flag at the top of the climbing wall seconds before Josh.
Then comes the final weigh-in. Jim Bob gets a four-pound weight advantage for winning the obstacle course, and Josh gets a four-pound weight advantage because the doctor says he has made the biggest improvement.
Jim Bob ends up at 194 pounds (198 minus 4), while Josh comes in at 198 pounds (202 minus 4).
"Words can't describe how proud I am of both of you to see that you did great on this weight-loss challenge," says Steve. "I have one more surprise that you need to watch out for." At that moment, John-David and Joseph sneak up from behind and pour coolers of ice-cold sports drink on Jim Bob and Josh.
As punishment, Josh makes breakfast in bed for Jim Bob. He prepares toast, turkey bacon, eggs, and a smoothie. "I tried to make sure that I didn't load up on any butter or anything like that," says Josh. "I gave him dry toast, you know, so it wasn't that bad."
"Josh is a good cook, and he can really surprise me because there's a lot of things I just didn't know he knew how to make," says Anna.
Jordyn and Josie wander into the kitchen and sweet-talk Josh into making breakfast for them. The two girls and Josh carry a tray up to Jim Bob, who is fast asleep. "Josh fixed a wonderful breakfast," says the dad of 19.
Both Jim Bob and Josh plan to continue losing weight by eating healthy and exercising regularly.
At the end of the show, Josh and Anna gather the family to make a big announcement. After much prayer and wise counsel, they have decided to accept the job that Josh was offered and move to Washington D.C.
"Arkansas is home for me," says Josh. "I really have no desire to move away, but sometimes when you have opportunities, you have to go out and seek them."
"I'm happy for them," says Jessa. "But at the same time it's really sad because we're all so close."
"Michelle and I have dedicated our children to the Lord from the time that they were small, and our goal is for each one of them to follow where the Lord leads them, and if He leads them away from our area and we just see them once in a while, then that's the way it's meant to be," says Jim Bob.

Season Finale Tonight

2013-05-21T15:44:00.000-05:00

Tonight on TLC's hour-long season finale of 19 Kids and Counting...

9:00 PM EST/8:00PM CSDT

Baby Gender Reveal & the Final Weigh In

Josh and Anna are caught off guard when the whole family visits Restoration Church and Pastor Howard reveals a big secret! Plus, after 90-days of training, a Duggar weight loss champ is crowned. And Josh and Anna reveal a life changing decision.

3rd Duggar Book...Coming in 2014

2013-05-20T17:31:00.000-05:00

The Growing Up Duggar release date has been pushed back four months. Instead of coming out this November, the book--written by Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger Duggar--will hit the shelves March 2014. Think you can wait that long?

Run Like A Duggar

2013-05-18T12:03:00.000-05:00

Jim Bob and Josh finish off their weight-loss challenge with one final competition (video below):

Jill Duggar Turns 22

2013-05-17T00:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Jill!

Tour the Playroom

2013-05-17T00:00:00.001-05:00

Take a video tour of the Duggars' playroom, guided by Jason:

What do you think of the Duggars' sign?

"Decisions & Deliveries" Recap

2013-05-16T19:44:00.002-05:00

Tuesday on 19 Kids and Counting...

When Josh is offered a job in Washington D.C., he and Anna seek wise counsel from Jim Bob and Michelle.
"I'd hate to see the grandkids grow up without us being there," says Jim Bob. "I think they really need to pray about this decision.
"Just the change of going from two children to three children in huge," says Anna. "Adding on top of that the possibility of moving to D.C.... sometimes it's too much for me to think about. We're just kind of weighing our options and trying to see how this is all going to unfold." Tune in next week to hear their final decision.
Jill and Jana assist at another homebirth. Due to a defect in the umbilical cord, the girls and their birthing team decide to send the baby to the hospital. "We had never seen this specific defect before," says Jill. "But we wanted to make sure that baby was doing okay. Everything was great, as far as we could tell. His vitals were amazing, but we knew that on the inside things still weren't right."
Samuel Arlington Barnes IV has corrective surgery and does not experience any lasting effects from the omphalocele. According to his mom, he is "doing fabulous."
"Jill and Jana have been amazing students," says Vanessa, the midwife that the girls are apprenticing under. "Especially when it comes to fully taking care of our clients. They are ready for any emergency that arises, and they are extremely loving to the clients. And they both soak up so much information. They're like sponges."
The family heads to Texas for Joseph's graduation from ALERT Academy (Air Land Emergency Response Team) and a demonstration of the skills he has learned. After being away from Joseph for nine weeks, the Duggars are thrilled to see him.
When they arrive, Joseph is standing at attention. "It was hard to just walk up to the little yellow line there, not to be able to go and just run and grab him and give him a big hug," says Jana.
Jim Bob can hardly contain his joy. "We love you Joseph. Blink once if you love us back," says the father of 19. Joseph blinks.
At graduation, Joseph is commended for his personal excellence, endurance hike, and Scripture memory. When the ceremony is finally over, the entire family runs over to Joseph and embraces him.
"I enjoyed the physical training and stuff like that," says Joseph. "But being away from family is so hard."

Jana and Jill: An Emotional Delivery

2013-05-15T08:47:00.000-05:00

In the following video, Jana and Jill experience an emotional delivery that takes over 35 hours and requires further medical assistance:

Recap: Duggars Get Physical

2013-05-14T23:14:00.000-05:00

Tonight on 19 Kids and Counting...

While Michelle is making breakfast, Jim Bob tries to flip the omelets. "I eat them, I probably can cook them," he says. He makes a good effort, but his wife has to step in to finish up.
"I don't think my dad's a good cook," says John-David.
Did you know that it takes 3-dozen eggs to make breakfast for the entire Duggar family?
Josh and Anna visit Anna's parents in Florida, where they meet Paul, David and Priscilla's new baby. (Priscilla is Anna's older sister.)
Josh has been offered a job in Washington D.C., and Anna's parents encourage him to go for it. Tune in next week to hear the couple's final decision. If Josh accepts, he will be wearing a suit to work every day. He and Anna say that the biggest difficulty would be losing their support network.
While in Florida, Josh and David go four-wheeling. "If there is room for competition, there will be competition between David and I," says Josh, who finishes the course in four-and-a-half minutes. David completes it in less than four minutes. When the men get back to the house, their wives are shocked to see them covered in mud.
Anna watches Mackynzie, Michael, and Paul and gets a taste of what life will be like with three little ones. "It's been a little challenging," she says. Her third child, a boy, is due June 7th.
Back home, Jim Bob and Josh go to the doctor for a follow-up visit and another stress test. Jim Bob's previous time was 12:33; this time it's 14:02. Josh, who started at 10:46, makes it to 14:12.

We will post the "Decisions & Deliveries" recap soon.

Tonight on TLC: Life-Changing Decisions

2013-05-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

What's the scoop on Josh's new job opportunity? Find out tonight on TLC!

Due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict, the recap of tonight's episodes will be late. We will post it as soon as we can.

9:00 PM EST/8:00PM CST

19 Kids and Counting: Decisions & Deliveries

Josh is presented with a job opportunity 1,200 miles away and decides to seek guidance from Jim Bob and Michelle. Jana and Jill's client goes into labor, and the family attends Joseph's boot camp graduation.

9:30 PM EST/8:30PM CST

19 Kids and Counting: Duggars Get Physical

Josh and Anna head down to Florida to visit Anna's family and meet the latest family addition, her newborn nephew Paul. And after several weeks of training, trainer Steve pushes Jim Bob and Josh to their max, all leading up to the final weigh-in.

Duggars on CBS

2013-05-13T11:16:00.000-05:00

The Duggars appeared on yesterday's segment of CBS Sunday Morning (video segment below).

A Look Back to Yesterday

2013-05-12T00:00:00.001-05:00

Take a look at the photos below to see how much the Duggars have changed over the years.

Duggar family 2004

15 kids and counting

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar

Josh and Anna Duggar

Jana Duggar

John-David Duggar

Jill Duggar

Jessa Duggar

Jinger Duggar

Joseph Duggar

Josiah Duggar

Joy-Anna Duggar

Jedidiah Duggar

Jeremiah Duggar

Jason Duggar

James Duggar

Justin Duggar

Jackson Duggar

Johannah Duggar (with Jackson)

Jennifer Duggar

Jordyn Duggar

Josie Duggar

*Photo credits: DCL

In Celebration of Moms

2013-05-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day...

To Grandma Duggar, Michelle, and Anna and to all our wonderful readers!

Michelle shares how the Duggars celebrate Mother's Day in her latest Parentables post: The children often make homemade cards for each of us, which are my favorite things. I have those treasures in my keepsake box, the special little hand-drawn ones.

She talks about how much of a blessing Grandma Duggar has been in her life. Their first encounter took place before Michelle met Jim Bob, when she was applying for a job at the yogurt shop where Grandma Duggar worked, and the two have been close ever since.

Now that Grandpa Duggar has passed away, she spends a lot of time with the children and they really cherish that time. The kids take turns helping Grandma with her business or just spending time together. At Mother’s Day especially, we try to really recognize Grandma Duggar and thank her for being such a great mom and grandmother.

The mom of 19 also mentions her own mother, who passed away years ago: At Mother’s Day, I also recall memories of my own mother. She was with us for our first baby Joshua, and we have special memories of that time together.

Jana and Jill: More Midwifery

2013-05-09T08:26:00.000-05:00

Jana and Jill Duggar do a postpartum visit with one of their clients and explain their passion for their work.

Missing Joseph

2013-05-08T09:14:00.001-05:00

In the following video, Michelle Duggar shares how she feels about 18-year-old Joseph, who is at ALERT Academy, being away from home for an extended period of time.

"This is the first and the longest that one of ours has been away from home by themselves," says Michelle. "And the only way that we really get to communicate with him is by him writing us letters."

Recap: Dinner and Surgery

2013-05-07T21:43:00.000-05:00

Tonight on 19 Kids and Counting...

"Dinner For Forty"

Anna tells her children they are best friends, but Mackynzie and Michael still fight. "I guess you could call them frenemies," says Anna, who spends an average of 40 hours a week alone with her two little ones.
For lunch one day, Anna, who is experimenting with healthier meals, prepares baked fruit salad, tilapia, and sweet potato fries and is surprised by her kids' positive reactions. "I like it with ketchup on it," says Mackynzie.
"Michael is learning to talk," says Anna. "Right now his favorite word is 'no.'" The almost-two-year old, who has always slept in mom and dad's room, spends his first night in Mackynzie's room. He sheds a lot of tears and climbs out of his crib several times, but he and Mackynzie eventually fall asleep.
The camera crew checks up on Joseph at ALERT Academy (Air, Land, Emergency Resource Team) in Texas, where he is going through intense physical and spiritual training. "Thank you for praying for me because that's the only way I am going to make it through this. Send me some oatmeal cookies," Joseph writes in one of his letters to the family.
"I'm happy for him, but I sure do miss him," says Michelle. "Even with 19, you miss one when they're not there."
Jim Bob and Josh's trainer, Steve Conley, brings his family over to the Duggars' for dinner. They are joined by Steve's pastor and his six daughters. That's a total of 40 people! "We enjoy having a full house with lots of friends," says Michelle.
Before Jim Bob and Josh sit down to eat, Steve inspects their plates. "I know your wife is eating for two," Steve tells Josh. "That don't mean you're supposed to eat for two."

"A Surgery & A Secret"

Nine weeks into Jim Bob and Josh's weight-loss challenge, the men gear up for their toughest workout yet. Their warm-up, a run around the yard while Steve follows in an RTV, is followed by intense drills, like pulling a 5,000-pound SUV up a slight incline. When they finish, Steve commends Jim Bob and Josh for their hard work.
Four-year-old Jordyn, who snores and is having trouble breathing, is having her tonsils removed. She and Michelle head to the supermarket to stock up on ice cream and other soft foods.
The surgery goes well, and Jordyn is soon back home resting in Jim Bob and Michelle's bed. "Our bedroom ends up being like the family hospital room," says Jim Bob.
Jordyn is kept company by Justin, who is recovering from an injury. He busted an eye vessel while playing outside with a rope and has to wear an eye patch until it heals.
Jordyn is surrounded by an army of little Duggars who are eager to be of service (and secretly hoping to get some ice cream).
"As soon as Josie realized that Jordyn was getting popsicles because of her owie...she's laying right next to Jordyn," says Michelle.
"Jordyn is a daddy's girl," says Jim Bob. "She's usually a happy kid," says Jill. "She has her moments," says Jana.
While Jordyn rests, the rest of the family enjoys turkey sandwiches, a lunchtime favorite.
Meanwhile, Anna has an ultrasound to determine the gender of her third child, due June 7th. The ultrasound technician gives the results to Jim the soundman, who plans a big reveal for the family. When Anna was pregnant with Mackynzie, she and Josh found out the gender by cutting into a pink cake on the Today Show. Michael's gender was written in the sky by an airplane. How do you think Jim is going to reveal the gender of baby #3? (It's a boy.)

Tonight on TLC

2013-05-07T12:14:00.000-05:00

Tune in to TLC at 9PM EST/8PM CST for two new episodes of 19 Kids and Counting!

"Dinner for Forty"

The Duggar household fills up fast when trainer Steve's family, along with Pastor Howard and his family, come by for a super-sized dinner. We check in with Joseph at his emergency rescue training boot camp, and Michael finally moves into his own room.

"A Surgery & A Secret"

Jim Bob and Josh are hurting as trainer Steve puts them through their toughest workout yet. Meanwhile, Jordyn gets her tonsils removed, and Josh and Anna go in for an ultrasound that will reveal the baby's gender, but only one person will know the results.

Duggar Sisters

2013-05-06T11:46:00.000-05:00

The four oldest Duggar girls range in age from 19 (Jinger) to 23 (Jana). If you had to describe each of them in one word, what would you say?

*Photo credits: Scott Enlow

Growing Up Duggar...Book Cover Released

2013-05-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Only six months until Growing Up Duggar hits the shelves of your local bookstore!

In a rare look inside America’s favorite mega-sized family, the four eldest girls talk about their faith, their dreams for the future, and what it’s like growing up a Duggar.

Airing weekly throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, 19 Kids and Counting has made the huge Duggar family into a media phenomenon. The Duggar children are frequently asked, “Tell the truth; do you really agree with the lifestyle your parents have created for you?” Now, the four eldest Duggar girls—Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger let us know how they feel.

With a backdrop of the key relationships in their lives—relationship with self, parents, siblings, friends, boys, and God—the four Duggar girls open up about their own personal beliefs and convictions, boys, dating, manners, living in a large family, politics, and much more. You’ll learn why Jessa has a reputation as a troublemaker, how the family navigates the difficult years between twelve and sixteen, and what the girls look for in a man, all in a frank and fun book that will inspire teens and adults alike. Including lighthearted stories about the younger kids’ antics, Growing Up Duggar is a wise and entertaining trip into a family like no other.

Michelle Duggar

2013-05-03T23:29:00.000-05:00

As Mother's Day approaches, Michelle Duggar discusses her childhood and the person who made it special...her mom (video below).

"We always had a happy home," says Michelle. "It was just a fun place to be, and Mom made it that way."

Grandma Duggar Babysits

2013-05-02T11:45:00.000-05:00

When Jim Bob and Michelle and the older girls are all away, Grandma Duggar is in charge (video below).

"They need structure," she says, "but I also let them choose what they would like to do, and they get excited about that."

"We're just your average kids," says Jason. "We're not the best kids in the world. I mean, we all make mistakes."

Duggars Go Snorkeling

2013-05-01T15:13:00.001-05:00

While in Puerto Rico on a marriage retreat, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar go snorkeling for the first time (video below). Have you ever been snorkeling?

Love & Marriage Recap

2013-04-30T21:58:00.000-05:00

On tonight's episode of 19 Kids and Counting, "Love & Marriage"...

To connect as a couple after 28.5 years of marriage, Jim Bob and Michelle head to Puerto Rico for a marriage retreat. "It's always good to make a good thing better," says Michelle. She and Jim Bob are away from their children only a few nights a year.
As the Duggars run out the door to catch their plane, Michelle reminds Grandma and the girls to set a timer every 20 minutes for potty training.
When asked what he and Michelle hope to get out of the marriage retreat, Jim Bob jokingly responds, "number 20!"
What does Michelle say is the most annoying thing Jim Bob does? He "plays basketball" with his sweaty, wadded up socks every night.
What habit of Michelle's does Jim Bob find frustrating? When he calls her over to show her something, she often stops to clean up a mess or put something away. By the time, she makes it over to where Jim Bob is, the thing he wants to show her is gone.
Is Michelle a nagging wife? "Michelle really doesn't nag," says Jim Bob. "She just lovingly encourages me."
In Puerto Rico, Jim Bob and Michelle meet with relationship coaches Chris and Anne Hogan. Michelle shares what's on her heart: she says she and Jim Bob need to work on their communication.
Back at home, Grandma and the older girls enjoy spending time with the younger kids while Jim Bob and Michelle are away. One morning, Anna brings over a delicious breakfast of Nutella, toast, and fruit.
The four oldest girls (Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger) speak at a birthday party while Grandma watches the little ones. She even plays a few games of foursquare with the kids.
At the birthday party, the girls talk about relationships with boys and courtship (aka "dating with a purpose").
Are there any Duggar courtships in the works? Jill says no. According to Jessa, the girls are in the "observing stage" but are not yet emotionally attached to any guys.
On day two of their marriage retreat, Jim Bob and Michelle go snorkeling for their first time ever. Michelle is dressed in a WholesomeWear swimsuit, and Jim Bob wears Jeans cut off at the knee.
On another day, the Duggars go zip lining. At 4745 feet long, La Bestia ("The Beast") is one of the longest ziplines in the world, and it is 853 feet off the ground. "I don't ever want to do that again," says Jim Bob afterwards. "Yeah me either," agrees Michelle.
The day Mom and Dad are due to return home, Grandma and the kids are in heavy-duty cleaning mode. When it comes to cleaning, some of the kids are more thorough than others, says Jana.
The Duggars also discuss adoption. According to Michelle, they are praying about it and waiting to see what God has in store for their family.