My mom's in the hospital (don't worry, she's all right). Her roommate is 98 years old. Her room mate is one of 24 children. She has 15 sisters and 8 brothers. I don't know if they're still all alive or what but this seems like a record to me...

What's the big deal with the octuplet family? What, I'm guessing in California...

Just a thought...

My mom is in a St. Pete FL hospital, FYI. An additional FYI - she had 2 kids - me and my sister. I don't know why I'm saying this...

Oh, as a side note. STS-119 launch has been set for 2:41 am central time 2/22/09.

Tom

The big thing Tom is that she has no job ( hasn't for a long time), no income, is on food stamps, 3 of her older kids ( all are 7 yrs old and younger) have disabilites ( are they getting the care and education they need) and as of right now, it looks like the government...us tax payers will be footing the bill.

6 kids + 8 babies...in a small 3 bedroom home.

On my mothers side of the family, there were some big families. Big difference is they supported their own. Farmed or worked. They didn't expect or every take government money to have kids or raise them.

Sending prayers for your mom and her roomate.

I think the 'marvel' is that they're octoplets, all born - alive and still living - of a single prengnancy. ...not so much that they're now part of a super large fam. Although that's a whole other issue given the mother's "situation" (mental, fiscal, what have you).

Glad to hear your mother is A-okay!

I think it is both what Becca and what Curious said. First, it was that it was octuplets that are all surviving. Then, it became a three ring circus over the mother's issues / circumstances.

Wow! One of 24. That is amazing. I am one of "only" 10 and people always are stunned when they hear that. However, large families were not that uncommon years ago. A good portion of my friends growing up had at least 5 or more siblings. My grandmother on my mom's side was one of 14.

However, back then children were conceived and born by more natural means. There were twins and occasionally triplets but more than that was pretty rare. Dionne sisters comes to mind when I think about this. Remember all the publicity that surrounded them.

I am glad your mom is OK.

Thanks for the updated on the STS-119.

My MIL is one of 14 which probably isn't that big a deal, but in the paper today, one guy stated that his grandmother had 27 full term babies. The difference here is .... as Curious noted in other cases ... these children were all conceived and born by natural means, and were all supported by the family that gave birth to them. None of them were subsidised by the govt or as it boils down, the rate payers of the country.

I too am glad that your mom is doing well.

One wensite gave the max amount that each of the children on disability could be drawing in. The total was $2379 a month. She gets $490 in food stamps and she also draws SSD. So yes, we are paying a lot of money to that family and will for years to come. Who's to say that any of those 8 little ones in the hospital will also have a disability.

One of the main reason she stated she wanted a large family was that she didn't have a good childhood, never thought her parents gave her enough time. How in the world does she think she is going to give 14 children the time the need and deserve and still go to school full time? I don't know what the solution is here but I hope she's done having babies.

ok, I'm living in a vacuum...

I watched the news last night, I guess for the first time in a while... The octuplet mom I guess even has a web site where you can make donations.

She's an unemployed single mom? Sheesh!

Tom

Well, while your'e living in that vacuum Tom~ bring it over to my house and use it!!! *grin*

Hope your Mother is able to leave the hosp soon.
The whole Octuplet drama is just really sad and I mean for the children. The Mother should not be all over the media, she should be home w/her children and/or visiting her new babies. Those babies are all so beautiful; the whole situation for them is just very heartbreaking.

I'm glad your Mom is doing ok Tom.

Back in the old days it was common for families to have lots and lots of kids because the mortality rate could be high. Also, many of them were expected to help work around the farm, etc... My Dad was one of 12. My maternal grandma was one of 14. Both were raised on farms and many of the kids had to work the farm (and help with the younger siblings as they were born) etc... Both families were totally self-supporting.