Michelle, Jim Bob and the rest of the Duggar family have begun healing after a difficult week.
During a routine ultrasound appointment, the stars of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" discovered their 20th child no longer had a heartbeat. The child -- a girl -- was due next April.
Afterwards, Michelle returned home on the advice of her doctor to rest and let the miscarriage occur naturally (she was not given medication to induce contractions due to the cut created by the emergency Caesarian she underwent while giving birth to their 19th child, Josie). "The kids are mothering me now," the 45-year-old mother said.
The miscarriage occurred Sunday and Michelle was taken to the hospital for observation, People reports. According to a family spokesperson, she is expected to return home Monday.
The family held a private memorial Sunday night at their home for the girl, who they named Jubilee Shalom Duggar. A second memorial service will be held this Wednesday for friends and family members.
"We have had many tears today," said Jim Bob, 46. "This is life, and I understand that we are going though 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."
"We would like to thank everyone for their prayers, emails and outpouring of love," Jim Bob wrote in a letter shared with People. "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."
There was one reason to be happy over the weekend. Daughter Josie celebrated her 2nd birthday on December 10th. Michelle's preeclampsia caused the youngest Duggar to be born prematurely at just 25 weeks, weighing 22 ounces. Fortunately, Josie has had no long-lasting developmental issues.
"We were looking forward to this birthday because it is a milestone for her," he says. "It is wonderful that she is with us and doing so well."
Michelle and Jim Bob's children range in age from 2-23. Their eldest son Joshua and his wife Anna have two kids of their own.
