Duggars Plan Memorial Service For Baby Jubilee Shalom; Michelle Hospitalized

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar continue to grieve following the news that the reality TV mom miscarried her 20th child last week.

The "19 Kids and Counting" couple told People that they plan to hold a memorial service on Wednesday for the baby they named Jubilee Shalom Duggar.

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"We have had many tears today," Jim Bob told the mag. "This is life, and I understand that we are going [through] something that many others have. You think about the what-ifs, but God gives us strength to go on. We won't be able to see this child's life and the phases that we've seen for our other children, but we know we will see this child in heaven one day. We are thankful for each child, and we are blessed to have the children we have here and the ones we will meet someday in heaven." Michelle, 45 - who doctors advised to let the miscarriage happen naturally -- felt lightheaded on Sunday and was taken from home, where she was being cared for, to the hospital.

The mother of 19 is reportedly being kept under observation and is expected to be released from the hospital on Monday.

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Jim Bob thanked their fans for the outpouring of love they received following their heartbreaking news.

"We would like to thank everyone for their prayers, emails and outpouring of love," he wrote in a letter he shared with the mag. "As our whole family is grieving, we also know that God promises to work all things for good in our lives. Our prayer is that Jubilee's passing will help us all realize that this life is short, and our relationship with Jesus is the most important thing. He gives us a peace in our hearts as He guides us through whatever we might face."

Despite their miscarriage, the Duggar patriarch said the entire family was able to celebrate the recent birthday of their youngest child, Joise, 2, who was born in 2009 at just 25 weeks.

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"We were looking forward to this birthday because it is a milestone for her," he told the mag of his daughter's December 10 birthday. "It is wonderful that she is with us and doing so well."

This was Michelle's second miscarriage. She previously lost a baby during her second pregnancy, when she was reportedly taking oral birth control. According to the mag, this incident caused the couple to let the number of children they have be left "up to God."

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In addition to their youngest daughter, Josie, the couple is also parents to Joshua, 23 (who has two children, Mackynzie, 2, and Michael, 4 months, with wife Anna, 23), twins Jana and John-David, 21; Jill, 20; Jessa, 19; Jinger, 17; Joseph, 16; Josiah, 15; Joy-Anna, 14; twins Jedidiah and Jeremiah, 12; Jason, 11; James, 10; Justin, 8; Jackson, 7; Johanna, 6; Jennifer, 4; and Jordyn, 3.

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Michelle Obama helps break world record for jumping jacks

Michelle Obama sets the world record for jumping jacks (AP)

Michelle Obama has earned her family another place in history. This time, Mrs. Obama will share the honor with more than 300,000 other participants on Sunday who set the record for most people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period.

The previous world record was just 20,000.

In a video from the White House, seen below, Mrs. Obama thanked National Geographic Kids and the Guinness Book of World Records, who helped organize the event as part of Obama's Let's Move! initiative to promote physical fitness and healthy eating for children. She also said she hopes that physical fitness will be a priority for the kids who participated.

"More than anything, I want to say, thanks to every single young person who showed that exercise isn't just good for you, but that it's fun too," Mrs. Obama said.

On Sunday, Mrs. Obama led about 400 kids from elementary and middle schools in the Washington area on the South Lawn of the White House. Other jumping jack events were held around the world to reach the world-record mark.

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Continue Reading... Labels: break, helps, jacks, jumping, Michelle, Obama, record, world

Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden Draw Boos at NASCAR Event

(Alan Diaz/AP Photo)

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden were grand marshals at today’s NASCAR season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, appearing as part of their charitable campaign to support military veterans and their families.

But their benign, bipartisan cause wasn’t enough to prevent public fallout from the nation’s polarized political climate as they were introduced before the crowd.

ESPN video from the event documented loud boos from some in the stands as the announcer named Obama and Biden, seconds before they delivered the “most famous words in motorsports,” telling drivers to start their engines.

The pair — who co-chair the Joining Forces initiative — stood beside retired Army Sgt. Andrew Barry and his family. Barry was wounded in action in Iraq and Afghanistan, retired from the military in 2009 and now volunteers at an Orlando veterans center, the announcer said. He received resounding applause.

A source traveling with the first lady downplayed the incident, telling ABC News there was no discernible booing during the “loud chaotic program with jets flying over and tons of noise.”

The Associated Press reported that the two women received a standing ovation at the pre-race meeting with drivers, during which Obama said NASCAR was “amazing in terms of its support, not just today but every day, for military families.”

Before the race, the first lady addressed a barbeque for military families that NASCAR had invited to the event.

“Everyone around the country is focused on you.  And this isn’t just an effort today,” she said. “ Jill and I through Joining Forces, we want to make this a part of the dialogue in this country forever.  Whether Jill or I are here or not, whether this administration is here or not, this is about the way we want this country to talk about our troops, veterans and military families forever.  We want you to feel that appreciation and that gratitude so that you know your sacrifice is not in vain.”

The negative reaction from fans was first reported by Mediaite.

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Continue Reading... Labels: Biden, Event, Michelle, NASCAR, Obama

Michelle Parker: Woman Goes Missing After 'The People's Court' Episode Airs

Authorities are continuing to search for a missing Orlando mom who vanished last week following the airing of "The People's Court" episode she appeared on.

Michelle Parker disappeared Thursday afternoon, the same day a previously taped episode of the court show aired featuring her and her ex-fiancée, Dale Smith.

The couple appeared in court to settle over a $5,000 engagement ring.

Parker was last seen dropping off the couple's twins at Smith's home.

Her abandoned truck was found a day later.

Police gathered items from Smith's home and searched the nearby woods, but have not gone so far as to call him a suspect or a person of interest.

Parker's parents said they don't think that Smith is not involved in their daughter's disappearance, according to ABC News affiliate WFTV.

"He (Smith) has fully cooperated," said Yvonne Stewart, Parker's mother. "They have found absolutely no evidence that there's any foul play on his part."

Parker's parents told WFTV Saturday that believe their daughter was a "victim of a random crime."

Her family is making desperate pleas for her return.

Parker's mother, Yvonne Stewart, is frantic.

"If anybody has her and are holding her hostage, please let her go. Let her come home so she can raise her babies," she said.

Rocky Relationship

In their argument on "The People's Court," Parker revealed deeper conflicts in their relationship.

"He shouldn't have put his hands on me and he shouldn't have put his hands on me prior. He shouldn't have left me three or four times over the past year and a half that we we've been together," she said on the show.

The show could provide clues for investigators.

"You know it's always possible that anytime you have a public display of animosity between two individuals in a relationship, it's going to exacerbate the problems between those two individuals," said Rod Wheeler, former Washington D.C. homicide investigator and current homicide consultant.

It's not the first time daytime TV has shared the headlines with a case.

Back in 1996, a man was convicted of murdering an acquaintance, after he claimed the "Jenny Jones Show" ambushed him with a gay crush confessional.

And for this case, a private dispute that played out for television audiences could be linked to this family's nightmare.

Parker's father, Brad Parker said family members, friends, volunteers and Texas Equusearch members are searching for his daughter.

"So let's hope we find her and bring her home…," he said.

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Continue Reading... Labels: After, Court', Episode, Michelle, Missing, Parker:, People's, Woman