while palin is on the campaign trail - who's going to take care of the baby and other kids??

[radfringe]

I understand her husband works full-time, is he quitting his job?

When she took office as mayor, he was going to stay home and run the house, but citing "financial need" - he went back to work. Grandma and others in the community took care of the kids.

I've worked for many years in social services with retarded and mentally ill adults - Downs Syndrome is more than just mental retardation, there are often multiple physical problems that comes along with it:

Down Syndrome and Associated Medical Disorders
http://www.medicinenet.com/down_syndrome/page6.htm

During the first days and months of life, some disorders may be immediately diagnosed. Congenital hypothyroidism, characterized by a reduced basal metabolism, an enlargement of the thyroid gland, and disturbances in the autonomic nervous system, occurs slightly more frequently in babies with Down syndrome. A routine blood test for hypothyroidism that is performed on newborns will detect this condition if present.

Several other well-known medical conditions, including hearing loss, congenital heart disease, and vision disorders, are more prevalent among those with Down syndrome.

Recent studies indicate that 66 to 89% of children with Down syndrome have a hearing loss of greater than 15 to 20 decibels in at least one ear, due to the fact that the external ear and the bones of the middle and inner ear may develop differently in children with Down syndrome. Many hearing problems can be corrected. But, because of the high prevalence of hearing loss in children with Down syndrome, an objective measure of hearing should be taken to establish hearing status. In addition to hearing disorders, visual problems also may be present early in life. Cataracts occur in approximately 3% of children with Down syndrome, but can be surgically removed.

Approximately half of the children with Down syndrome have congenital heart disease and associated early onset of pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure in the lungs. Echocardiography may be indicated to identify any congenital heart disease. If the defects have been identified before the onset of pulmonary hypertension, surgery has provided favorable results.

Seizure disorders, though less prevalent than some of the other associated medical conditions, still affect between 5 and 13% of individuals with Down syndrome, a 10-fold greater incidence than in the general population. There is an unusually high incidence of infantile spasms or seizures in children less than one year of age, some of which are precipitated by neonatal complications and infections and cardiovascular disease. However, these seizures can be treated with anti-epileptic drugs.

The incidence and severity of these associated medical ailments will vary in babies with Down syndrome and some may require surgery.

[NanceGreggs]

1. ...

... Jesus?

:shrug:

[DarthDem]

2. Easy

1) Probably some dirtbag community organizer; OR

2) She won't actually be on the trail much, if at all, having fulfilled fully 50% of her required public appearance quotient already.

[bananas]

3. The real mother, Bristol. nt

[JI7]

4. her daughters are watching the baby

[sam sarrha]

6. ....she's too busy get'n knocked up to watch the kids

[SoCalDem]

8. Are they being tutored? That's a lot of school to miss

:shrug:

[sam sarrha]

5. are you kidding.. their ELITISTS.. THEY GOT F'n NANNYS.. he's a BP executive.. BIG F'n OIL Puppets

[SoCalDem]

7. John McCain's bus driver?

:rofl:

[TexasObserver]

9. you know McCain's black daughter, the one NOT in the US mag cover photo?

I wouldn't be surprised if they give her the job.

The cover shot showed all of Palin's kids, even the pregnant one, but the black girl from McCain's family was not included.

[lunatica]

10. Are you kidding?! They're her political props

She's going to drag that baby all over the place and have him on stage with her making sure every one keeps him in their thoughts because there's political gold in that there child! He's her ticket to the White House and the living icon for the Dobsons to use to consolidate more power. Every other candidate keeps their kids close but out of the spotlight. Not Palin though! She has great political capital in her children. She's not only a pit bull with lipstick, she'll also tell us she's the epitome of American Momhood!