Jon & Kate Divorce » Articles

Large Families Are Getting Out Of Hand

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:44:37 +0000

‘All I’ve ever wanted is twins or triplets. It’s my biggest wish, and I’m going to keep trying until I do it.’It would be fantastic. In fact, I won’t stop trying until I’ve done it. I love having babies – it’s the most wonderful thing in the world.’

I found this article on DailyMail.co.uk mentioning some crazy lady who might just be our next Nadya Suleman. Sarah Foss wants a set of twins so bad she’s willing to continue popping buns out of her oven until she gets them. Right now she’s up to 14 children with no end in sight.

It began when Sarah became pregnant with her firstborn Patrick. Then she was uncomfortable with the birthing process and swore she would never have another child. 10 years later, she got over that fear and has given birth to an average of one child per year.

Currently she accepts £50,000 in benefits and gets £4,200 in tax credits and family allowance monthly. Sarah and her live-in man, Stephen, share a three bedroom apartment with their bevy of children – the eldest Patrick excluded. She says that most of the children sleep on airbeds and cots because there isn’t enough space for more conventional sleeping arrangements.She takes care of business on the home front while Stephen works as a canal boat builder. Their list of expenses runs on for miles with a price tag to match.

All this just for a set of twins.

Reading the article, this woman’s life sound more like a nightmare than a dream come true. Her tone from the interview sounds happy, as she cheerily describes the mountains of work involved with running such a crowded household and the astronomical amounts of money it takes to keep the family going.

On top of it all, as if her poor kids weren’t going to be teased enough when they got to high school, check out the names they have given the children (along with the parents explanation of why/where the name came from):

Patrick – named after Sara’s grandmother’s surname of Patrick

Stephen – after his doting dad, Stephen

Malachai – after a character in the horror film, Children of the Corn

Peppermint – after Sara started craving mints during her fourth pregnancy

Echo – after a group of eco-campaigners who Stephen met during a job at work

Eli – another character in the 1984 film Children of the Corn

Rogue – a character in the film X-Men

Frodo – hobbit in Lord of the Rings

Morpheus – a character in film, The Matrix, staring Keanu Reeves

Artemis – book character, Artemis Fowl, an obnoxious teenage criminal

Blackbird – named after a gathering of blackbirds which flew onto Sara’s lawn

Baudelaire – named after the Baudelaire orphans which featured in Lemony Snicket’s film A Series of Unfortunate Events

Voorhees – named after serial killer, Jason Voorhees in the horror movie, Friday The 13th

Yeah, those kids are going to grow up perfectly well-adjusted.

Meanwhile, I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that this woman and her family don’t end up on the next episode of TLC’s “Ruin a Family For Financial Gain & Ratings”.

Doctors refuse to repeat “Jon&Kate” mistake

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:21:09 +0000

A fertility physician in Long Island is taking a stand against the debatable medical practice of implanting multiple embryos in IVF (in-vitro fertilization) procedures. The problem facing many doctors and patients who are seeking this form of treatment has always been the financial burden that multiple cycle transfers can be on the couple. The cost can be so prohibitive that patients will pressure the doctor to implant multiple embryos in a guarantee that at least one will take. Of course, if most or all take, then the parents are left with the medical issues and financial strain of having to take care of these multiple births.

Dr. David Kreiner of E ast C o ast Fertility is implementing the Single EmbryoIncentive Program at his clinic in an effort to convince patients to not consider multiple embryo implants. With the new program, all viable embryos will be frozen and only one embryo at a time will be transferred. If multiple transfers are needed the procedure will be performed at no extra cost to the patient.

“We’ve reduced the sticker shock of IVF so dramatically by absorbing the fees associated with cryopreservation and subsequent transfers, that we’re providing a financial incentive for patients to do the right thing – for themselves, their marriages, their financial futures and, most important, any babies they may have,” Kreiner said. “Our goal is to help people already under the stress of infertility, choose the possibility of one healthy child with each pregnancy.”

Kreiner hopes that patients will use this program, even though it means less profit for his clinic. But he thinks it worth it.

Kreiner, a pioneer in the fiel

d who trained under legendary IVF innovators Drs. Howard and Georgianna Jones, vowed to bring an end to the heartache and ruin that comes with high order multiples.

Full article found here.

Stepping Out of the Spotlight

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:03 +0000

It seems Jon and Kate are reducing their media coverage – or at least, coverage as far as they are concerned. So it might be a little while until we here from them again. Both Jon and Kate have decided to offer no more press releases until an undisclosed time in the future. Of course, the show returns in August, so we will certainly be hearing from them then. This is what an article on the LA Times blog had to say.

Jon and Kate Gosselin are speaking out for what they say is the last time. For a while.

Oh, we can only hope and pray.

Here are their famous last words….

The separated couple say their primary focus now is their family.

“During this very difficult time we will be working to focus solely on the needs of our family,” the reality TV stars say in a joint statement posted on the TLC website. “This includes no longer commenting publicly or reacting to media stories and speculation.”

“Our goal is to do the very best for our children and that will be done as privately as possible,” the statement continues. “We appreciate the understanding, support and well wishes from so many. Thank you.”

Their show, “Jon & Kate Plus Eight,” will go on hiatus until Aug. 3.

Jon & Kate spark IVF debate

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:32:32 +0000

With all the press and media coverage Jon and Kate are getting, IVF (in vitro fertilization) is becoming a hot topic. More than ever (with perhaps the exception of the media flare Octomom created) people are beginning to focus on the pros and cons of IVF, along with other available fertility methods. And there is a lot to talk about. The biggest concern is whether or not health care should be providing coverage for these kinds of procedures. Another concern is whether doctors should be required to try less invasive – but less precise – methods before recommending IVF to their patients.

I highly recommend checking out this Q & A hosted by Liza Mundy, a staff writer for the Washington Post. It was very thought provoking to hear so many well argued points on all sides of this debate.