"Duggars Respond and Rescue" Recap

On last night's episode of "19 Kids and Counting"...

• When a deadly tornado tornado hits Joplin, the eldest Duggars pack up supplies and rush to lend a hand. For 26 hours straight, they worked as search and rescue workers. 
• Seeing the widespread destruction is very humbling for the kids. "They had houses that were thrown blocks down the road, miles even," observes John-David, offering to help victims in any way he can.
• To celebrate Jason's 11th birthday and Jackson's 7th birthday, the Duggars party it up at a local, family-style arcade. 
• Putting aside the usual "it's all about me" birthday stigma, Jackson gives up his hard-earned, 2500 tickets to "buy" a princess kit for Johannah. 
• For Grandma Duggar's 70th birthday, the family bakes and decorates 70 cupcakes and invite a bunch of family and friends over for a surprise party. 
• Everyone loves Grandma! "She's always made it fun when she babysits," says Jill. "Whenever the kids are doing something, Grandma will give it a try," chimes in Jackson. "She'll try almost anything!" adds Joseph. When the family went skydiving a couple years back, she wanted to join in, but Grandpa talked her out of it.
• After a trip to the local cyclery, Jason, Jackson, and even Grandma come home with new bikes. Jim Bob tries to talk Michelle into getting one, but the mom of 19 prefers to drive the van on family bike rides. 
• What happened to the Duggars' motto, "buy used and save the difference"? They still follow it, but bikes are an exception. "The bikes get old and rusty, and they end up costing more to fix them up than what you can just go buy a new one for," explains Jim Bob. 

Do you enjoy bike-riding? 

"Duggar Dental Drama" Recap

On tonight's night's episode of "19 Kids and Counting," Duggar Dental Drama...

• The day before Josh, Jessa, Jinger, and Joseph were scheduled to have their wisdom teeth extracted, Michelle guided the little ones in making homemade applesauce for the "patients." While peeling the apples on the apple peeler, the kids especially enjoyed eating the strands of leftover peel, known as "snakes" in the Duggar home.
• Want to give the Duggars' applesauce recipe a try? Add a bit of water to a pot of peeled apples, and then cook them up on the stove. Next, add some honey, and place the applesauce in the fridge to cool.  
• While Jessa--the guinea pig--was having her surgery, the receptionist overheard Josh and Joseph say that the had both drank sweet tea three hours before their appointments. 
• When the doctor got word of the predicament, he told the boys that they would have to reschedule their surgeries. He kindly reminded them that they could have no food or drink (other than water) less than six hours before the procedure.
• "I really wanted it to happen today," admitted Anna. "Josh has been procrastinating getting his wisdom teeth removed for three years"
• And here's what John David had to say about his brothers' "mistake": "Josh and Joseph are much more...'well, we're supposed to do this, but we can probably get pretty close to the edge." 
• Both Jessa and Jinger obeyed the doctors' initial instructions, and their surgeries went well. Jinger is a lightweight, so it took the anesthesiologist only half as much medicine to put her out as it did to put Jessa out. Neither of the girls minded being stuck with an IV. 
• "Let me get your picture!" Those were Jim Bob's first words to Jinger after her procedure. She posed with her usual thumbs-up and as much of a smile as she could muster. 

Are you squeamish when it comes to having needles?

"Duggars, Doctors, Discipline" Recap

On tonight's episode of "19 Kids and Counting," Duggars, Doctors, Discipline...

• Michelle--along with Jana, Jedidiah, and James--drive over three hours to Little Rock for Josie's preemie checkup. It is well worth the drive when Dr. Lyle, the Duggars' neonatologist, gives Josie a clean bill of health.   
• Josie is not thrilled about all the poking and prodding that come with her visit to the doctor, but she tolerates it. "She's so small...but she's really, really smart," says Jessa. Josie blows kisses, loves to jabber, and is even starting to walk on her own!
• Back home, Jessa reads to the little ones--age five and under--and then puts them down for their 2:00 nap. Johannah is usually the most defiant, but Jessa is patient and knows the importance of being firm and consistent. 
• Does Jessa actually enjoy training and correcting her younger siblings? The answer is yes. "She'll be a very organized mom," says Michelle. "But she definitely will run a tighter ship than I ever did." 

Do/did the older kids in your family enjoy helping out with the little ones? 

Duggars, Doctors, Discipline

Tonight on "19 Kids and Counting," Duggars, Doctors, Discipline...
It's back to Little Rock! Michelle and Josie head to the pediatrician to check the preemie's progress. What will the doctor order? Tune in tonight (or read our recap) to find out! Back at the house, Jessa is honing her childcare skills by teaching--and disciplining--the youngest Duggars. All this on TLC at 9PM EST/8PM CST. 

"Duggar Boys Day Out" Recap

On last night's episode of "19 Kids and Counting," Duggar Boys Day Out...

• Jim Bob and Michelle race to submit the final manuscript of their second book (in stores now). In a house with eighteen children, you can imagine that's not an easy task. Michelle shares her perceptive "[Our children] are what our job is. The distraction is sitting down and trying to write a book."
• When asked what he learned about his wife through the whole process, Jim Bob replies, "Michelle is the sweetest person in the world, but she can also be very firm...sometimes we have a difference in opinion." Michelle gives her response: "When it comes to putting something in black and white, I just want it to be the way I really believe it ought to be, and I'm not going to settle for anything less." 
• Jim Bob, Josh, and John-David spend several hours at an auto auction, bidding on vehicles to sell at Josh and Anna's car lot.
• All the Duggar men--and boys--head over to convert Josh's new car lot from a taco restaurant into a dealership. Even seven-year-old Jackson goes along to help. The youngest Duggar boy is embarrassed when Johannah tells the world that he still likes to play "Mom and Dad." But after a hard day at work, Jackson is eager to get home and tell his favorite playmate all about his experience working with the big boys.
• "They kind of communicate...like a typical married couple," Jim Bob describes the relationship between Jackson and Johannah.

Do any of your children have a relationship like Jackson and Johannah? Is there a sibling in your family that you are especially close to?