wulfbourne Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 After nearly four months in neonatal intensive care, Duggar baby No. 19, Josie Brooklyn, is finally leaving the hospital. "We're grateful for the prayers of thousands," Jim Bob Duggar tells PEOPLE as he and wife Michelle left Arkansas Children's Hospital on Tuesday with Josie. "We are so happy," adds Michelle. "We are so excited, we are running on adrenaline. I have been getting into the routine of every three hours feeding, diapering and taking her temperature. We are so encouraged that she is doing so well." As they drove away from the hospital, her physician, Dr. Robert Arrington said, "This is the first time Josie has seen sunlight." She was born on Dec. 10 via emergency C-section at just 25 weeks' gestation. Weighing just 1 lb. 6 oz., the micropremie fought for her life, surviving a bowel perforation at only 8 days old. Today, Josie weighs 4 lbs. 9 oz., is breathing without oxygen, eating every three hours and stable enough to go home, says Arrington. It's a bittersweet day for the staff. "I will miss being around the baby and the family," Arrington says. "They are very nice people. But they've told me they will stay in touch and come by the nursery to let us see her." Michelle says the family's emotional roller-coaster ride has "leveled out," and that Josie's disposition has been a joy in hard times. "She has a strong personality," Michelle says. "She is a spunky little thing and will keep us all going." The littlest Duggars at home – Jackson, 5, Johanna, 4, Jennifer, 2, and Jordyn, 15 months – have never seen Josie in person and "are jumping up and down that they will finally get to meet their baby sister," says Michelle. Of course, given Josie's still-delicate state, "the little ones will have to be careful with slobbery kisses to prevent any colds and sniffles," Michelle adds. The family will remain in a rental home nearby in Little Rock indefinitely until they are ready to take Josie home to Tontitown, Ark. "I will be her main caregiver," Michelle says, "and we'll have a lot of helpers around to take turns feeding her and getting her to sleep." 19 Kids and Counting: Josie Comes Home airs Sunday, May 9, at 8/7 Central on TLC. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20358254,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+people%2Fheadlines+%28PEOPLE.com%3A+Top+Headlines%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 Good for them! Go Josie!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 Good for them! Go Josie!:D :iagree::iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k2bdeutmeyer Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 Such wonderful news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dansamy Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 I'm so happy to see this. I was wondering when she'd get to go home. Her original EDD was about a week or so ago, IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 Yaaayyyy!!! Fantastic news!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifemom Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 Awwww! Yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaney Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 So funny I was just wondering about them! I can't wait to see how it all shakes out. I am praying that there are no lasting effects of her being so tiny. We all know what she will look like though! Wow are they some cute country kiddos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jen5253 Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 Yay!!!! I'm so glad she's going home! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNC Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 She sounds like she's doing great! My 25weeker (adopted) was on O2 until he was 7yo!! I'll be praying for her continued development... I've never watched the show, but I've seen them over the years and they seem like such a nice and peaceful family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cortana Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 So glad to hear that baby Josie is getting to go home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3boysmama Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 Yay!! That's such wonderful news!! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 God is good!!! YAY!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Oh, this is great news! I was wondering how she was doing. Yay for Josie!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EthiopianFood Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Woo hoo! So happy for them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdie Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 That is great news! Thanks for posting article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2abcd Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Thanks for the update! I wish them all God's continued blessings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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