18 Kids and Counting
Encyclopedia
19 Kids and Counting is an American reality television show that airs on TLC
. The show is about the Duggar family, which consists of parents Jim Bob
and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children—nine girls and ten boys (including two sets of fraternal twins), who all have names beginning with the letter "J". The series began on September 29, 2008.
, and originally appeared in several TLC and Discovery Health one-hour specials, most of which focused on four of Michelle's last five deliveries.
Jim Bob has one older sister, Deanna, who (along with her daughter Amy) occasionally appears on the show. Michelle has six siblings. Jim Bob and Michelle met in the early 1980s when Jim Bob, along with another church member, were sent for a follow-up visit after Michelle had experienced a religious conversion. Jim Bob and Michelle were married on July 21, 1984.
The Duggars elected to delay having children and practiced birth control. It was three years before Josh, their eldest child, was born. They then resumed using birth control; despite precautions, Michelle conceived again but suffered a miscarriage. Believing the miscarriage was due to the contraceptive, the Duggars quit birth control. As they explain, they "decided to allow God to determine the number of children" they would have. Shortly thereafter, Michelle became pregnant again, this time with her first set of twins, Jana and John-David. Thereafter, approximately every year and a half, Michelle gave birth.
The Duggars are conservative Christians, and due to their fundamentalist biblical beliefs, they practice the following: The only television the family watches are wholesome family programming on DVDs, and various historical events. Internet use is restricted. The male family members keep their hair cut short (by cutting their own hair to save money), while the females keep their hair long. The children are home-schooled using a mix of materials, including those of Switched On Schoolhouse, Institute in Basic Life Principles
(IBLP), and Accelerated Christian Education
(ACE). For college studies, several of the older kids use the CollegePlus! program. The children are discouraged from dating, but rather practice chaperoned courtship
, and the couple abstains from physical contact. In addition, the young man seeks permission from the young woman's father to become engaged.
The Duggars raise their children using a buddy system, wherein an older sibling is assigned to a younger sibling and assists in their primary care. According to Michelle, "they help them with their little phonics
lessons and games during the day and help them practice their music lessons. They will play with them or help them pick out the color of their outfit that day and just all of those types of things." In 2004, Michelle Duggar won the "Young Mother of the Year Award" in Arkansas, which is sponsored by American Mothers Incorporated.
Jim Bob served in the Arkansas House of Representatives
from 1999 to 2002. Currently, he is a real estate agent and investor
. The Duggars' income is derived from the rental proceeds of the commercial properties they own. They live debt-free, which Jim Bob has said is "the fruit of Jim Sammons' Financial Freedom Seminar" he attended years ago (Sammons' Seminar is endorsed by IBLP). The construction of their 7,000 square foot (650 square meter) house was started by the family in 2000 when they bought the land and ordered the frame. Discovery Networks completed it, by finding local Arkansas construction workers to donate their skills and time. The home was completed on January 20, 2006. The painting, decorating, furnishings, appliances, and other finishing touches—such as a stocked pantry—were provided by Discovery Networks and corporate sponsors as part of the one-hour television special entitled 16 Children and Moving In.
On December 10, 2009, Michelle gave birth via emergency C-section to Josie Brooklyn Duggar, three months prematurely. Michelle was rushed to the hospital for gallstones and it was there that doctors discovered she had pre-eclampsia
and performed an emergency delivery. Josie weighed 1 lb, 6oz at birth. A week after the birth, Michelle reported that Josie was "doing as well as can be expected for a baby at her age. We are taking each hour as it comes." On April 6, 2010, after nearly four months in the hospital, Michelle and Jim Bob were able to take Josie to their rental in Little Rock, while they awaited the okay to take her home to Tontitown. However, on April 8, 2010, Josie Duggar was readmitted to the hospital after her vital signs dropped. Fortifiers that had been added to breast milk to help her gain weight appeared to be the cause.
The family was able to take Josie home to Tontitown on June 23, 2010. Michelle Duggar reported that Josie is doing very well, and weighs about 9 pounds. "She has a double chin now," Michelle said, "It is so precious." Josie reportedly weighed in at a healthy 15 lbs. 12 ounces just over 5 months later in December 2010.
The family had discussed the possibility of having more children in an exclusive May 2010 interview with Radar Online. Michelle was quoted as saying:
On November 8, 2011, Michelle Duggar and family appeared on the Today Show to announce that she is expecting their 20th child, who is due in April 2012.
Other notable guests have been:
, Amazon Instant Video, Netflix
, and Microsoft
's Zune
Marketplace.
TLC (TV channel)
TLC is an American cable TV specialty channel which initially focused on educational content. Since 1991 TLC has been owned by Discovery Communications, the same company that operates the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and The Science Channel, as well as other learning-themed networks...
. The show is about the Duggar family, which consists of parents Jim Bob
Jim Bob Duggar
James Robert "Jim Bob" Duggar is an American former state legislator, who served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002. He also ran in the Republican Party of Arkansas primary election for the United States Senate in 2002, but lost to Tim Hutchinson...
and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children—nine girls and ten boys (including two sets of fraternal twins), who all have names beginning with the letter "J". The series began on September 29, 2008.
Background
The family lives in Tontitown, ArkansasTontitown, Arkansas
Tontitown is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,460 at the 2010 census. Tontitown is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and originally appeared in several TLC and Discovery Health one-hour specials, most of which focused on four of Michelle's last five deliveries.
Jim Bob has one older sister, Deanna, who (along with her daughter Amy) occasionally appears on the show. Michelle has six siblings. Jim Bob and Michelle met in the early 1980s when Jim Bob, along with another church member, were sent for a follow-up visit after Michelle had experienced a religious conversion. Jim Bob and Michelle were married on July 21, 1984.
The Duggars elected to delay having children and practiced birth control. It was three years before Josh, their eldest child, was born. They then resumed using birth control; despite precautions, Michelle conceived again but suffered a miscarriage. Believing the miscarriage was due to the contraceptive, the Duggars quit birth control. As they explain, they "decided to allow God to determine the number of children" they would have. Shortly thereafter, Michelle became pregnant again, this time with her first set of twins, Jana and John-David. Thereafter, approximately every year and a half, Michelle gave birth.
The Duggars are conservative Christians, and due to their fundamentalist biblical beliefs, they practice the following: The only television the family watches are wholesome family programming on DVDs, and various historical events. Internet use is restricted. The male family members keep their hair cut short (by cutting their own hair to save money), while the females keep their hair long. The children are home-schooled using a mix of materials, including those of Switched On Schoolhouse, Institute in Basic Life Principles
Institute in Basic Life Principles
The Institute in Basic Life Principles is a non-denominational, Christian organization in Oak Brook, Illinois that serves as an umbrella organization for several ministries. IBLP was established by Bill Gothard for the purpose of resolving youth and family conflicts...
(IBLP), and Accelerated Christian Education
Accelerated Christian Education
Accelerated Christian Education is an American educational products company which produces the Accelerated Christian Education school curriculum. The home office is in Nashville, Tennessee, with a customer service and distribution center in Lewisville, Texas. According to a study, by 1980 there...
(ACE). For college studies, several of the older kids use the CollegePlus! program. The children are discouraged from dating, but rather practice chaperoned courtship
Courtship
Courtship is the period in a couple's relationship which precedes their engagement and marriage, or establishment of an agreed relationship of a more enduring kind. In courtship, a couple get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement or other such agreement...
, and the couple abstains from physical contact. In addition, the young man seeks permission from the young woman's father to become engaged.
The Duggars raise their children using a buddy system, wherein an older sibling is assigned to a younger sibling and assists in their primary care. According to Michelle, "they help them with their little phonics
Phonics
Phonics refers to a method for teaching speakers of English to read and write that language. Phonics involves teaching how to connect the sounds of spoken English with letters or groups of letters and teaching them to blend the sounds of letters together to produce approximate pronunciations...
lessons and games during the day and help them practice their music lessons. They will play with them or help them pick out the color of their outfit that day and just all of those types of things." In 2004, Michelle Duggar won the "Young Mother of the Year Award" in Arkansas, which is sponsored by American Mothers Incorporated.
Jim Bob served in the Arkansas House of Representatives
Arkansas House of Representatives
The Arkansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the state. Each district has an average population of 26,734...
from 1999 to 2002. Currently, he is a real estate agent and investor
Investor
An investor is a party that makes an investment into one or more categories of assets --- equity, debt securities, real estate, currency, commodity, derivatives such as put and call options, etc...
. The Duggars' income is derived from the rental proceeds of the commercial properties they own. They live debt-free, which Jim Bob has said is "the fruit of Jim Sammons' Financial Freedom Seminar" he attended years ago (Sammons' Seminar is endorsed by IBLP). The construction of their 7,000 square foot (650 square meter) house was started by the family in 2000 when they bought the land and ordered the frame. Discovery Networks completed it, by finding local Arkansas construction workers to donate their skills and time. The home was completed on January 20, 2006. The painting, decorating, furnishings, appliances, and other finishing touches—such as a stocked pantry—were provided by Discovery Networks and corporate sponsors as part of the one-hour television special entitled 16 Children and Moving In.
During the series
Shortly after the series first aired, Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar's book The Duggars: 20 and Counting! was released (December 2, 2008).On December 10, 2009, Michelle gave birth via emergency C-section to Josie Brooklyn Duggar, three months prematurely. Michelle was rushed to the hospital for gallstones and it was there that doctors discovered she had pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia or preeclampsia is a medical condition in which hypertension arises in pregnancy in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine....
and performed an emergency delivery. Josie weighed 1 lb, 6oz at birth. A week after the birth, Michelle reported that Josie was "doing as well as can be expected for a baby at her age. We are taking each hour as it comes." On April 6, 2010, after nearly four months in the hospital, Michelle and Jim Bob were able to take Josie to their rental in Little Rock, while they awaited the okay to take her home to Tontitown. However, on April 8, 2010, Josie Duggar was readmitted to the hospital after her vital signs dropped. Fortifiers that had been added to breast milk to help her gain weight appeared to be the cause.
The family was able to take Josie home to Tontitown on June 23, 2010. Michelle Duggar reported that Josie is doing very well, and weighs about 9 pounds. "She has a double chin now," Michelle said, "It is so precious." Josie reportedly weighed in at a healthy 15 lbs. 12 ounces just over 5 months later in December 2010.
The family had discussed the possibility of having more children in an exclusive May 2010 interview with Radar Online. Michelle was quoted as saying:
"We would love more! I'm 43, almost 44 this September. I know that my mommy years are probably numbered, and I don't know how many more children God will see fit to give me.
"It is something we've been praying about because we do love children. Each child really is a gift and that doesn't mean just our children. We asked the Lord to give us a love of children the way He loves children. That is something that we've prayed about, and we'll just see what the Lord has in store for our family in the future."
On November 8, 2011, Michelle Duggar and family appeared on the Today Show to announce that she is expecting their 20th child, who is due in April 2012.
Parents
- James Robert "Jim Bob" DuggarJim Bob DuggarJames Robert "Jim Bob" Duggar is an American former state legislator, who served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002. He also ran in the Republican Party of Arkansas primary election for the United States Senate in 2002, but lost to Tim Hutchinson...
[born 18 July 1965 (age 46)] - Michelle Annette Duggar (née Ruark) [born 13 September 1966 (age 45)]
Children
| Name | Date of Birth | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua "Josh" James | 3 March 1988 (age 23) | Married to Anna Keller on September 26, 2008 |
| 2 | Jana Marie | 12 January 1990 (age 22) | Birth via C-section |
| 3 | John-David | ||
| 4 | Jill Michelle | 17 May 1991 (age 20) | |
| 5 | Jessa Lauren | 4 November 1992 (age 19) | |
| 6 | Jinger Nicole | 21 December 1993 (age 18) | Homebirth |
| 7 | Joseph Garrett | 20 January 1995 (age 17) | Homebirth |
| 8 | Josiah Matthew | 28 August 1996 (age 15) | |
| 9 | Joy-Anna | 28 October 1997 (age 14) | |
| 10 | Jedidiah Robert | 30 December 1998 (age 13) | |
| 11 | Jeremiah Robert | ||
| 12 | Jason Michael | 21 April 2000 (age 11) | |
| 13 | James Andrew | 7 July 2001 (age 10) | |
| 14 | Justin Samuel | 15 November 2002 (age 9) | |
| 15 | Jackson Levi | 23 May 2004 (age 7) | Birth via C-section; featured in Discovery Health special |
| 16 | Johannah Faith | 11 October 2005 (age 6) | Birth featured in a Discovery Health special |
| 17 | Jennifer Danielle | 2 August 2007 (age 4) | Birth featured in a Discovery Health special |
| 18 | Jordyn-Grace Makiya | 18 December 2008 | Birth via C-section |
| 19 | Josie Brooklyn | 10 December 2009 | Birth via emergency C-section; featured in a TLC special |
Josh's family
| Name | Date of Birth | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Duggar (née Keller) | 23 June 1988 (age 23) | From Putnam County, Florida; the fifth of eight children; made her first appearance in season 1, episode 3 | |
| 1 | Mackynzie Renée | 8 October 2009 | Homebirth |
| 2 | Michael James | 15 June 2011 | Homebirth |
Family members
| Name | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Lee Duggar | Jim Bob’s father | February 3, 1936–February 9, 2009 (aged 73) |
| Mary Duggar | Jim Bob’s mother | Born 26 May 1941 (age 70); known as Grandma Duggar on the show |
| Deanna Jordan (née Duggar) | Jim Bob’s sister | Married to Terry Jordan; Amy’s mother |
| Amy Duggar | Jim Bob’s niece | Born 30 September 1986 (age 25); a country Country music Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music... singer (she sang "Amazing Grace Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,... " in the closing credits of the episode about her grandfather's funeral) |
| Garrett Floyde Ruark | Michelle's father | December 7, 1924–June 18, 2010 (aged 85); appeared in one episode (his wife, Ethel, passed away on August 11, 1991) |
Non-family
The most often recurring guests (who are not related) are the Bates family from Tennessee. Because they are so similar to the Duggars (having 18 kids of their own), they have become close friends.Other notable guests have been:
- Meredith VieiraMeredith VieiraMeredith Louise Vieira is an American journalist, television personality, and game show host. She is best known for her roles as the original moderator of the ABC talk program The View and co-host of the long-running NBC News morning news program, Today...
of Today - Kirk CameronKirk CameronKirk Thomas Cameron is an American actor best known for his role as Mike Seaver on the television situation comedy Growing Pains , as well as several other television and film appearances as a child actor...
(actor) – season 2, episode 10 - Dolly PartonDolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
– two episodes in season 3 - Charles StanleyCharles StanleyCharles Stanley , is a US preacher, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia.Charles Stanley may also refer to:*Charles H...
(minister) – season 6, episode 3 - Dan Harris of Good Morning AmericaGood Morning AmericaGood Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
– season 7, episode 12 - Bethany HamiltonBethany HamiltonBethany Meilani Hamilton is an American professional surfer. She is known for surviving a shark attack in which she lost her left arm, and for overcoming the injury to ultimately return to professional surfing. She wrote about her experience in the 2004 autobiography Soul Surfer: A True Story of...
(professional surfer) – season 8, episode 6
Duggar appearances on other shows
- The Early ShowThe Early ShowThe Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
2006–2008 (CBS) - Fox & Friends 2007 (Fox News Channel)
- The Today Show – 10 appearances between 2007 and 2011 (NBC)
- American MorningAmerican MorningAmerican Morning is the morning television show on CNN. It premiered in 2001.-About the show:American Morning is hosted by Ashleigh Banfield, Zoraida Sambolin & Soledad O'Brien. Others who appear regularly are Rob Marciano with the weather, Sunny Hostin on legal news, and CNN senior medical...
2008 & 2009 (CNN) - Larry King LiveLarry King LiveLarry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
February 19, 2009 & April 13, 2009 (CNN) - HuckabeeHuckabeeHuckabee is a TV political commentary program on Fox News hosted by former Republican Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. It premiered September 27, 2008, at 8 PM EDT.- Schedule :...
August 1, 2009 (Fox News Channel) - Say Yes to the DressSay Yes to the DressSay Yes to the Dress is a TLC reality series which follows events at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City. The series shows the progress of individual sales associates, managers, and fitters at the store, along with profiling brides as they search for the perfect wedding dress...
October 2, 2009 (TLC)
DVDs
| Title | Region 1 | Discs |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 2009 | 2 |
| Season 2 | February 23, 2010 | 3 |
| Season 3 | April 27, 2010 | 3 |
| Season 4 | April 5, 2011 | 4 |
| Season 5 | TBD | TBD |
Online releases
Episodes of the series are available for download from the iTunes StoreITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
, Amazon Instant Video, Netflix
Netflix
Netflix, Inc., is an American provider of on-demand internet streaming media in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and flat rate DVD-by-mail in the United States. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, California...
, and Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
's Zune
Zune
Zune is a digital media brand owned by Microsoft which includes a line of portable media players, a digital media player software for Windows machines, a music subscription service known as a 'Zune Music Pass', music and video streaming for the Xbox 360 via the Zune Software, music, TV and movie...
Marketplace.
External links
- Duggar Family Website
- Official facebook page (their only social network page)
- Josh & Anna Duggar's Website
- http://www.influence-music.com/ Show composers Scott Pearson & David Imhof