On December 10th, Josie Duggar celebrated her 5th birthday. If you have been following the Duggars since 2009, you know Josie was born via emergency C-section, weighing only 1 pound 6 ounces.
"She was pretty fragile there for the first six months, and even the first couple years," Jim Bob Duggar told PEOPLE. "But she's gotten stronger and stronger, and it's hard to hold her down now! We are thrilled with her progress and so thankful to God that she is alive and doing so well."
When Josie was born at 25 weeks gestation on December 10th, 2009, at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the Duggars relocated to Little Rock to keep their family together as they gave their 19th child the attention she needed. They rented the historical Cornish House. (Click here to read a post from five years ago about the Cornish House.)
Josie Duggar is alive and well today, thanks to the prayers of millions across the world and the dedication of the doctors and nurses who cared for her in the NICU. The Duggars are grateful to God that Josie survived and is thriving.
To celebrate Josie's 5th birthday, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar took several of their children to McDonald's, Josie's favorite restaurant.
"It's a huge milestone for her at 5 years old, because of course she was in the hospital for six months," Jim Bob Duggar told PEOPLE.
Josie Duggar soon after her birth in December 2009
"She was pretty fragile there for the first six months, and even the first couple years," Jim Bob Duggar told PEOPLE. "But she's gotten stronger and stronger, and it's hard to hold her down now! We are thrilled with her progress and so thankful to God that she is alive and doing so well."
Josie Duggar, 2014
When Josie was born at 25 weeks gestation on December 10th, 2009, at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the Duggars relocated to Little Rock to keep their family together as they gave their 19th child the attention she needed. They rented the historical Cornish House. (Click here to read a post from five years ago about the Cornish House.)
Jana and Josiah Duggar with Josie Duggar in early 2010
Josie Duggar, 2010
To celebrate Josie's 5th birthday, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar took several of their children to McDonald's, Josie's favorite restaurant.
Jason Duggar, Jana Duggar, Jackson Duggar, Jordyn Duggar,
Michelle Duggar, Josie Duggar, Jim Bob Duggar
Jordyn Duggar, Michelle Duggar, Josie Duggar, Jim Bob Duggar
Happy Be lated Birthday Josie!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Josie! Praise God you are doing so well. God bless you all, we love the Duggars!
ReplyDeleteHappy 5th Birthday Josie!! Hope you continue to keep growing strong and enjoying each day!! Love you guys!! Marsha ;-)
ReplyDeleteHope Jordyn enjoyed having a Birthday celebration. She is equally special.
ReplyDeleteDid Jill & Derck have baby?
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Joise
ReplyDeleteWow!!! Such a little miracle <3
ReplyDeletehappy birthday to josie! it's wonderful that she's doing so well! oh, and by the way, under the pic of jana, josiah, and josie you have josie and josiah duggar with josie duggar. isn't it sposed to be jana and josiah duggar with josie duggar? -sarah
ReplyDeletewow she grew so much from when she was born and now shes so cute!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday josie may all your wishes come true and your day be blessed
ReplyDeleteHappy 5th birthday sweet girl you are sure a miracle
ReplyDeleteYou captioned a photo, "Josie, Josiah, Josie", when you meant Jana, Josiah, Josie! ~Blessings
ReplyDeletePlease tell me the rumors of shunning an unmarried in-law and her child are untrue. Our Lord teaches forgiveness, understanding and lack of negative judgment upon others. Pray for all involved.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday Miss Josie. God bless you all xx
ReplyDeletePraise God!!!
ReplyDeleteAll children are special blessings, but preemie babies can be just remarkable! How they grow and develop right before your eyes in such a different way. My granddaughter was born at 1lb 7oz at 25 weeks gestation. She is now 12 years of age!! Beautiful and completely healthy, just like your Josie! Happy Birthday, Josie! God's Blessings are absolutely wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Josie and Jordyn; Each and everyone of us has something special and unique about us; but indeed surviving a 25 week gestation birth is a miracle! Hope both girls enjoyed their birthdays..
ReplyDeletePraise God!!! I caught a small mistake thoe.....It should say Jana and Josiah Duggar with Josie Duggar! Not Josie and Johia with Josie!! :-)
ReplyDeleteLili
Typo! That is 'Jana and Josiah Duggar with Josie Duggar' instead of 'Josie and Josiah Duggar with Josie Duggar' in the third pic. (for Lily & Ellie)
ReplyDeleteJosie, you are a beautiful blessing from God! Another happy birthday wish from Australia! May God bless you and your family! :) (for Josie Duggar and the other Duggars)
Happy Birthday Josie, but please boycot that restaurant because they soak their meat in formaldehyde before freezing it.
ReplyDeleteHappy 5th Birthday Josie!!! It has been a pleasure watching you grow from such a tiny baby to a beautiful and happy 5 year old. Keep it up girl!! We love you all!!!
ReplyDeleteI think Josie is the caboose.
ReplyDeleteHappy. Birthday Josie!!! We love you and love your family! May God bless you all!
ReplyDeleteHi Readers,
ReplyDeleteWe corrected the typo. Thanks for keeping us on our toes! :)
Lily and Ellie
Happy Birthday Josie !!! You are truly a miracle.
ReplyDelete-Brittany :)
The development of Josie is indeed a miracle; that cannot be denied. However, it will be interesting to see how these "little ones" that have grown up in the public eye in front of cameras since day one fare for themselves when they go out into the real world and have to "do" for themselves. There are very few success stories so far about children being raised in public scrunity. Perhaps the Duggar children wil be the exception.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated Birthday Josie you are so precious and God Bless you hope you had an awesome Birthday!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Josie, it has been so special watching the miracle of your birth and watching your NICU stay at the hospital and seeing how you thrive and how beautifully you grow.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a great birthday Josie!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad my payers worked.Josie is healthy and smart and thriving beautifully.The power of prayers is undeniable.Time has just flown by way too fast.
ReplyDeleteJsie is such an amazing enegetic little girl!! Happy birthday 5 year old! Happy to say, me and Jinger share birthdays:)
ReplyDeleteJosie is such a bueatiful energetic gift from God! Happy 5th birthday Girl!
ReplyDeleteHappy to say me and Jinger share birthdays!!
Gods love should shine on you always little sweetheart!
ReplyDeleteThomas the tank engine
ReplyDeletesize
i think josie is
Go Josie! i'm lovin' it! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen do we get an update on ben and jessa???
ReplyDeleteI am happy for the family that they had access to medical expertise that saved Josie's life. Do the Duggars discourage their children from pursuing a career that would require an accredited high education, possibly away from home, or do they feel it would be making them vulnerable to unsavory indoctrination of some sort? It seems that the children are not lacking in talent or skills that could open doors to any profession they choose. (Their choices seem to be limited to uncertified midwifery or firefighting.) From appearances, the Duggar daughters are encouraged only to get married young and have many children.
ReplyDeleteWrong again, Jills course is accredited and certified.People please do your homework.As for the life they choose for themselves, well lets see...they grew up happy with loving parents, so if they want to emulate that than so be it, why not want the same for themselves if thats what makes them happy.They witnessed parents who adore one another,siblings that respect eachother, they give give give to others with acts of charity and ministry, there is constant music, singing, and so much love in that home, i would want the same too if i could choose.
DeleteI am happy that the Duggars had access to medical expertise that saved Josie's life. Do they encourage their children to pursue professions requiring accredited high education or do they feel this would expose them to unsavory indoctrination? It seems they are not lacking in intelligence or talent that would take them far in any career they choose. The Duggar daughters seem encouraged only to pursue marriage and motherhood at a young age.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Josie
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Josie! What a blessing to see how far you've come! Praise God you are so healthy!
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous 5,
Jill has not had her baby yet. She is due March 24th.
Blessings,
Lily and Ellie
Hi! My name is Giulia and I live in north of Italy. I watching your tv programme alla the day, in the morning. I like so much your tv programme and your family <3
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Josie!! Buon compleanno Josie!! :) :)
kisses all the family <3
I think that it is so special that Josie who is most likely their last biological child ended up looking like her mama.I am so glad that Michelle will have little grandbabies to love on that live close by.I think that by the time your grown children start to have children then thats probably a sign that your season is probably pretty much over.But adopting is always a good thing, especially the older kids who have a much harder time getting adopted.
ReplyDeleteWhat is up with the red pants?
ReplyDeleteLeslie
Hi Josie I Wanted TO Wish You A Happy Birthday
ReplyDeleteGod Bless You And Your Family
God Bless Summer
happy birthday Josie and Jorden!
ReplyDeleteIts such a succes story for Josie! Our baby girl was born at 24 wks. 2 days so even that little while makes a difference. She lived 5 mo but was too small
ReplyDelete@Anonymousagree
ReplyDelete