John and Chelsy 9: Title Update: Baby Madeline Is Here 10 Weeks Early

[JermajestyDuggar]

If they genuinely didn’t know why her birth was early, then the smart thing would be to not be quiverful. Because if you don’t know, then you can’t prevent it from happening again in the future. And she could have baby after baby after baby in the NICU for months at a time while she has a bunch of babies that need her at home. But we know Chelsy will be pregnant again very soon. Because she has the hubris of her parents. That’s shown in the fact that she took her NICU baby to a busy live show in Branson even though they don’t vaccinate or wear masks. 

[BigSandy]

7 hours ago, Bluebirdbluebell said:

I don't like that Chelsy took her whole family including her baby who isn't a year old on a vacation. This would be bad, because germs in general. During a pandemic, it's really stupid. None of those kids are old enough to be vaccinated. Stay home!

 

Oh yeah I definitely agree with you that it was a bad idea to go! I just liked the fact that she shared about the show without getting all religious about it!

[ClareDeLune]

It's nice that Sarah got to wear smart jeans and jewellery while someone else in the photo was wearing an OTT performance dress. I hope she is really happy that her own touring days are over.

[FloraKitty35]

Sarah looks great, that's all I have to say.

 

[Howl]

On 11/28/2021 at 2:23 PM, JermajestyDuggar said:

That’s shown in the fact that she took her NICU baby to a busy live show in Branson even though they don’t vaccinate or wear masks. 

I can't even with this.  NICU babies and all babies are vulnerable to RSV, colds, COVID, whatever people might be spreading around.  The height of idiocy and religious hubris. 

[hollyfeller]

On 11/13/2021 at 6:13 PM, Coconut Flan said:

I've seen two chiropractors and they were both woo practitioners.  One just wanted to sell me expensive supplements.  Modern medicine fixed my grandson's tongue tie in less than a minute with a laser surgical procedure.  No long drawn out process required.  We each find our own path, but generally I'll join the side-eyeing taking an infant to a chiropractor.  

My sports chiropractor is a lifesaver when I'm injured, but that's all I see one for.

[MamaJunebug]

On 12/1/2021 at 7:52 PM, ClareDeLune said:

I hope she is really happy that her own touring days are over.

I’ll be bold to say I’m sure of it. Observing her a decade or so ago, when they were at the height of their popularity, she did not seem to be enjoying herself at all. 
 

She wrangled the younger girls out of the sales booth and onto the “stage.”
She searched anxiously for Steve’s missing prop Bible (John “found” it, and made a suspiciously triumphant return).  

Through the evening, she wore a big, bulky camera.  She did not wear it for her appearance on stage to introduce herself (“I’m Sarah. I’m the oldest [pause] and the shortest.”).  Audience chuckled  

She retreated upstage where she and Teri sat with guitars during the show. It seemed pretty evident to me that again:  guitars = props.  
 

Not sure I saw her smile except maybe during her introduction.  Yep: I’m about confident she doesn’t miss the canine & equine at all. 

[CaptainFunderpants]

I honestly have no opinion on chiropractors. One of my parents swears that a chiropractor near us fixed his spine issue, but that chiropractor isn't woo at all -he encourages full vaccinations.

At face value a chiropractor for an infant sounds like a terrible idea, but the reality is that the birthing process is rough and it makes sense that newborns would have some issues and need adjustments. Even if it's eventually a c-section, there's still hours of stress on the infant before it gets to that point.

Again: I see why people believe in chiros within reason, but too many chiropractors also lack all reason.

[byzant]

The issuue is all chiropractic practice is underpinned by disproven nonsense. They might give a ŕeasoable massage but unlike  a massage or physical therapist all of ther training is based on throughly disproved nonsense. 

 

 

[Rosie]

On 12/12/2021 at 10:52 AM, MamaJunebug said:

I’ll be bold to say I’m sure of it. Observing her a decade or so ago, when they were at the height of their popularity, she did not seem to be enjoying herself at all. 
 

She wrangled the younger girls out of the sales booth and onto the “stage.”
She searched anxiously for Steve’s missing prop Bible (John “found” it, and made a suspiciously triumphant return).  

Through the evening, she wore a big, bulky camera.  She did not wear it for her appearance on stage to introduce herself (“I’m Sarah. I’m the oldest [pause] and the shortest.”).  Audience chuckled  

She retreated upstage where she and Teri sat with guitars during the show. It seemed pretty evident to me that again:  guitars = props.  
 

Not sure I saw her smile except maybe during her introduction.  Yep: I’m about confident she doesn’t miss the canine & equine at all. 

I thought the above referred to Chelsy, not Sarah?

[MamaJunebug]

23 hours ago, Rosie said:

I thought the above referred to Chelsy, not Sarah?

Correct, Sarah. 

[Howl]

On 2/11/2022 at 3:20 AM, byzant said:

The issuue is all chiropractic practice is underpinned by disproven nonsense. They might give a ŕeasoable massage but unlike  a massage or physical therapist all of ther training is based on throughly disproved nonsense. 

Strongly disagree.  My chiropractor, who I've been going to for over 20 years, does spine adjustment, period.  He uses a table with spring sections for adjustments and doesn't do extreme "back cracking."  He doesn't sell extra crap.  He just gets stuff back in alignment. 

I'm an active person, had the occasional issues from falling off my mountain bike that I could tell specifically caused a vertebra or two to get out of whack.  He could sort that in one visit.  I also have some mild scoliosis, which can create the occasional problem.  Again, one visit and done.  

Sixteen or so years ago we were read-ended on the Interstate.  I visited the office, saw the dad (now 85+ and retired) instead of the son (my regular guy) and he gave me the most tender, gentle "adjustment" for my neck.  No problems going forward. 

If I need a physical therapist, I get a referral for one.  They don't do the same things.  

[hollyfeller]

15 minutes ago, Howl said:

Strongly disagree.  My chiropractor, who I've been going to for over 20 years, does spine adjustment, period.  He uses a table with spring sections for adjustments and doesn't do extreme "back cracking."  He doesn't sell extra crap.  He just gets stuff back in alignment. 

I'm an active person, had the occasional issues from falling off my mountain bike that I could tell specifically caused a vertebra or two to get out of whack.  He could sort that in one visit.  I also have some mild scoliosis, which can create the occasional problem.  Again, one visit and done.  

Sixteen or so years ago we were read-ended on the Interstate.  I visited the office, saw the dad (now 85+ and retired) instead of the son (my regular guy) and he gave me the most tender, gentle "adjustment" for my neck.  No problems going forward. 

If I need a physical therapist, I get a referral for one.  They don't do the same things.  

My sports chiropractor has been amazing when I'm injured!

[Howl]

But to address the original issue, taking an infant to a chiropractor?  Oh, hell no. My chiropractor wouldn't consider it, and I don't even have to ask him about it. 

 

[Bethy]

On 12/1/2021 at 8:52 PM, ClareDeLune said:

It's nice that Sarah got to wear smart jeans and jewellery while someone else in the photo was wearing an OTT performance dress. I hope she is really happy that her own touring days are over.

But the thing is, the dresses they wore during the dog and pony show were the exact same pattern as all of their other frumpers, just in a coordinating fabric. So it wasn't like she was putting on  something OTT to perform - it was same song, different day, or same dress, different color.

[Cults-r-us]

On 3/3/2022 at 6:45 AM, Howl said:

But to address the original issue, taking an infant to a chiropractor?  Oh, hell no. My chiropractor wouldn't consider it, and I don't even have to ask him about it. 

 

I took my grandson who was about 18 mos to our town chiropractor. He had problems with gait, balance and delayed speech. I had got my daughter to get him evaluated by Tiny K (formerly Parents as Teachers). I wanted him evaluated by a developmental pediatrician but the Tiny K lady told my daughter he didn't need it. Who do you believe: Old Munchausen mom or the child development specialist? I wanted him treated by the PT on his case, but she said no. At least the chiropractor was interested in his development, adjusted him gently, gave ideas to improve strength and reassured me toddlers are their own best physical therapist.

At last, his problems were undeniable and he was diagnosed with autism and he got services.

[ophelia]

Chelsy updated her blog and stated that she has been and still is battling serious health issues. She is undergoing heart surgery on thursday.
I have to admit that I feel so sorry for her. Being severly sick is alwasys horrifying, but going through this while caring for three really young kids must be awful. I hope everything goes well for her.

[SolomonFundy]

I was horrified at her update. The car wrecks, Bells Palsy, congenital heart problem (and upcoming surgery) are all intense enough. Add in caring for a premie plus two other toddlers, AND her constant dental problems, and you've got a nightmarish "season of life". 

The dental issues really struck a note with me. Not only the recurring tooth losses that are almost certainly due to her constant pregnancies since marriage, but the brittle condition of her teeth in general. Chelsy says she hasn't had dental care in over a decade, and has had several dental surgical procedures in the past year to treat emergency situations. Chelsy herself says that these were things that could have been prevented with appropriate dental care earlier.  If she, the lovely "face" of the family blog, wasn't provided with basic dental care by her parents, including the period of time they were actively shopping for headships for her, then it's safe to say that none of the Bontrager children have gotten dental care in years.

[MaryatHome]

1 minute ago, SolomonFundy said:

I was horrified at her update. The car wrecks, Bells Palsy, congenital heart problem (and upcoming surgery) are all intense enough. Add in caring for a premie plus two other toddlers, AND her constant dental problems, and you've got a nightmarish "season of life". 

The dental issues really struck a note with me. Not only the recurring tooth losses that are almost certainly due to her constant pregnancies since marriage, but the brittle condition of her teeth in general. Chelsy says she hasn't had dental care in over a decade, and has had several dental surgical procedures in the past year to treat emergency situations. Chelsy herself says that these were things that could have been prevented with appropriate dental care earlier.  If she, the lovely "face" of the family blog, wasn't provided with basic dental care by her parents, including the period of time they were actively shopping for headships for her, then it's safe to say that none of the Bontrager children have gotten dental care in years.

Yeah, daily brushing, even flossing on the regular, won't prevent gum disease, which is the likely cause of her dental woes.  The extraction and implant part is advanced periodontal disease stemming from long-term bacterial action below the gumline.  I wouldn't be terribly surprised to find that the valvular disease is related to her dental health (there is a known connection between the two, and I would be surprised if her mitral valve issue stems from undiagnosed rheumatoid/strep instead of the dental infection).

[MaryatHome]

Oh, the other thing about her post--am I the only one that really wants to know what she scribbled out on the picture of John's shirt?  On one hand, I get it--not much bandwidth right now to deal with commentary, but on the other hand, if you are going to wear a (presumably) political statement across your chest in public, shouldn't you have the courage of your convictions about one of the 'many' things they are involved with?

My mind is also running around her daddy's 'plandemic' beliefs (remember his commentary at one of the weddings?) and the difficult news of her heart condition.  Will the family get the vax to protect her?  (I'm going to work on the assumption that she and John are, since I doubt that the cardiologist would operate without it.)

[Bluebirdbluebell]

The one good thing Chelsy has going is she and John are a really solid couple, even for fundies. 

I think it's a good sign for Mary and Anna that Steve didn't make them stay home to help Chelsy. Also I know they must be worried about her and shows their comfortable in being away from home. Many college students struggle with being away from home when situations are disasters. 

I wish Chelsy luck and hope for a successful surgery. She's lucky she didn't get COVID and die, considering she doesn't social distance and a heart problem.

[Smash!]

Wow she‘s going through a lot. Kudos to her for being so open about it because it shows a lot of the problems of the fundamentalist lifestyle. Constant pregnancies who can wear a body out, lack of trust in doctors leading to avoiding check ups. 

I can‘t help but wonder if the scary illness she had right before Madeline‘s birth was a bad case of Covid that caused her existing heart problem to worsen.

[Jana814]

I feel really bad that Chelsy is having all these health issues. I hope she’s going to be already. 

[JermajestyDuggar]

I just sat here reading that and blaming the Bontrager parents for being so anti medicine. I 100% guarantee she never saw a doctor growing up unless there was a problem. They likely never did well checks. We know they don’t care about vaccinations. They probably took the kids to the dentist but once she was an adult, that probably went out the window. I can’t help but think that if Chelsy had regular doctor and dentist appointments, this would have been caught way sooner and much could be avoided. We know the Bontragers are anti vax and seem to do nothing for speech issues in their children. The only reason they took the kids to the dentist was so they can have pretty straight teeth when they smile into the crowds they grift from on the road. Chelsy has had so many medical issues result from birthing her kids. I hope this gives her great pause when it comes to future children. I highly doubt she’s done. If her heart is fixed by the surgery, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was pregnant again soon after. 

[petrushka]

That's a lot to contend with in less than a year.  If Anna and Mary were away at ABC, I wonder who/if anyone stepped in to help.  She usually gives credit to the Bontragers and other Maxwells when they help out with the kids. 

I wonder what John is doing to support the family.  Does he still have the irrigation business?  Still dabbling in real estate?  Her remarks about how many hats he wears, expanding his areas of business and interests caught my attention.  I don't sense they are in trouble financially, but I wonder what their medical and dental bills are these days.  Don't think Scamaritan is covering it all.

I also read a fleeting glimpse of insight into her remark about Elliott still being a baby himself as he lay next to Madeline.  I get it-she loves her kids and aspired to a large family, but I hope she and John will wait a long time before becoming parents again.

If nothing else, this is a hard reality check for her and John.  Shit happens; some of it she could have avoided, some is just being dealt a bad hand. At least she doesn't always gloss over her difficulties. Hope she's in better shape the next time she posts.