Josie Update!

Josie Duggar, born at 25 weeks gestation and weighing only 1 pound 6 ounces, turns two next month! How is she progressing? Let's take a look.

"It is a miracle," Michelle tells People Magazine in a recent article."Josie is the most energetic, busy little almost-2-year-old. She is short, and yet she can keep up with the big girls and she thinks she is just as big as they are. We are amazed at what she can do."   

According to the article, Josie is "developing normally, without any longterm effects from her premature birth." Michelle and the girls have taught her sign language, and she is learning to respond to her parents' words.

On this week's episode, Josie was eating at the Duggars' dinning room table and started making noise. Jim Bob, while answering viewers' questions in the living room, leaned over and gently said, "Hey Josie, let's be really quiet, okay? Daddy's doing an interview." Josie's response proves how intelligent an infant she is. She answered, "K Dada."

Josie Update!

How is Josie progressing? Is she walking yet? Michelle gave us those answers and many more during our interview...

"She weighs seventeen pounds," announced Michelle. "And she's walking around, pulling up on furniture and walking around things now...She is jabbering all the time, and she tries to follow her little sisters around, her big sisters anyway, and keep up with them... It won't be any time before she's going to be taking off running and chasing big sisters!"

Ellie asked about Josie's adorable pigtails, and Michelle told us that "Those are called her Bebe Doos. We put them on, and people will always go, 'Are those... is that her real hair?' And we pull them off, and they're like 'Oh my, that is too funny!'"

Have you ever heard of Bebe Doos? Click here to see where the Duggars bought them. Would you consider buying them for your baby, or for another baby in your life?

Josie Update!

Josie Duggar will be 11 months old in just 5 days! We spoke with Michelle Duggar last week -- Click here to listen to the interview-- and she was thrilled to report that Josie is thriving. She now weighs in at over 15 pounds!
"Josie is doing wonderful!" reported the mom of 19. "She is a miracle baby...Her brain, and her eyes, and her ears, and all of those important things are working perfectly." Her favorite toy is the Jumperoo, and she loves to roll around on the floor.

Did/do your kids love the Jumperoo?

Current Josie Update From Michelle Duggar

 And now for a Josie Update! Josie Duggar is still in the NICU at Arkansas Children's Hospital, but she is doing great! Michelle Duggar told People Magazine that Josie "reached the 6 pound mark" late last week, and the Duggar family celebrated with a Six Pounder Party. Josie has been eating Michelle's breast milk, with added fortifiers, and her health has been positive. Her doctors have been able to get many of her digestive problems in order, although Josie still needs an enema "here and there," as Michelle puts it. 
"She’s getting a little double chin," Michelle excitedly told TLC. "It’s just too cute to see her little face filing out instead of being long and narrow and skinny."  

The NICU doctors have been performing frequent tests, in hopes that Josie will be able to go home permanently very soon. To see Josie's return to the hospital, tune into TLC at 9/8PM Central on Tuesday for "19 Kids and Counting" Duggars at the Hospital.

Just Announced: Josie Duggar Update!

People Magazine announced just three hours ago that Josie Duggar is still in the hospital. She was released on April 6th but was rushed back to Arkansas Children's for minor stomach complications just two days later. She now weighs 5 pounds, 14 ounces and has been growing at a steady rate of about 2 ounces each day. Michelle says that Josie loves to eat. "When she feels good," the mother of 19 explains, "she looks at you and smiles and talks. She's definitely a talker and has the sweetest personality."
Josie has been having problems with digestion, and Dr. Arrington, co-director of the NICU at Arkansas Childrens' Hospital,  is looking for a more permanent solution.  The Duggars hope to have Josie back home with them soon. 

Josie Update

Josie Duggar was rushed back to Arkansas' Children's Hospital seven days ago. Click here to read the full story.
She went home on Tuesday, April 6th but returned to the NICU just two days later.

This is what Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar announced in their official statement: 

"Josie was readmitted to the hospital on Thursday, April 8, at 3 a.m. with minor stomach issues.  We realized early that it would be a long, unpredictable recovery, which is why we opted to stay in Little Rock close to the expert staff at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Currently, Josie is healthy and in stable condition; we hope to have her back with the family in the next few days. As always, our entire family is grateful for the continued prayers and support."    

What are your experiences with infants, either preemie or full-term, coming home from the hospital? 
When do you think Josie will return home?