A Blessing? Indeed.

Recently, I shall say "Once upon a time" because of the story-like quality of the tale, there was a young girl. A rather, shall we say, precocious, young girl. I don't know exactly her age; She may be a young woman, but I'm told that information is forthcoming. This rather young girl/woman must have had something really going for her because somebody found her to be quite a catch, apparently. She's had six children already: aged seven, six, five, three, and a pair of twins that are two. It's nice that she lived with her Mom; also, her grandparent(s) were active in her life. I'm sure she appreciated their help. Otherwise how would she have found the time to, er, procreate! I mean, really. There has been no mention of the father/s however - perhaps that information is being saved for the book. There just has to be a book in this tale, maybe even a movie if they play their cards right, and I'm sure he'll want to come forth for his cut of the profits. And I haven't even gotten to the good part yet.

The good part is this - and the young mother calls it a blessing - she has just given birth to EIGHT babies. Ohmygod It's a fucking miracle. (get it? a fucking miracle? heh heh) Even the doctors were surprised as they expected only seven, but one of the little rascals was hiding behind the others. Playing together already. Awww.

Ed, her grandfather, said he has a large house where she will be living, where no one will be able to find her. He's gonna protect her from the media. Good Grandpa (and good luck with that). They'll all go live in the large house in a few weeks when they are discharged from the neo-natal intensive care unit. It's a good thing it's a large house, because when she moves in, she'll be bringing eight (8) newborn premature babies with her to join their six (6) siblings. Ed is sure that no one will find them at this house. It'll be a secure location for the brood. A sanctuary, of sorts. [why do I think he knows more about this story? I said suspiciously]

Oh just think of the fun they will have! Think of all the help the older sisters and brothers will be! Oops. Hold off on that - they have some growing up to do before they'll be able to be of much help, won't they? Oh well, I guess the first couple of years with kids are the hardest. The feedings, the diapers, the laundry, the trying to remember the names.

But later, after several years of home schooling in readin' and 'ritin' and learnin' numbers (and bible verses), they'll have loads of fun playing hide-and-go-seek with each other, and running and jumping and climbing trees and all of that, assuming, that is, they are all healthy, and don't have CP, or any of the myriad health problems that can come with early birthin'.

Things will get better. It is a blessing, a miracle, after all. Right? Right?

The I assume unmarried patient now has fourteen children, and is still living "at home" with her mommy. When she had 'just' six, not one doctor stepped in with a voice of reason and said "NO. I will not be party to this." Could it be they did it for the money?

Edited to add: The mother is 33; she is now living with her Mom, who filed for bankruptcy last Spring when her husband left for Iraq on a job. These octuplets were artificially inseminated because, as her Mom put it, "her tubes were all blocked." There was no mention of the father/s of the first six children.