RebeccatheWriter

You are a good person. I don't normally watch but they keep coming up on recommended. I wasn't feeling well this morning and was watching some youtube stuff on my laptop. Alyssa's, Erin's, and Carlin's all autoplayed at different times today after another video. I ended up watching them and now feel worse.

Don't forget Alyssa reacting to John throwing furniture in the pool before the hurricane.

He'll probably add their own cameras to the set up in her room like he did when she was recovering from Zade's birth. I can't believe I forgot that the two of them are still arguing over what to call rock, paper, scissors. Now that was riveting content. She calls it paper, scissors, rock, dynamite. He calls it rock, paper, scissors. She says he's not saying paper. I poured more wine.

I'm not sure on all her timing. She claimed that Tori and Bobby are at the beach and coming back for dinner - she was doing a video of making chicken. She said something about Michael watching the kids, but Michael had Zach's kids at the zoo with Kelly Jo and the three youngest Bates. So I'm not sure how all the timing worked out. I don't know where all these people sleep either especially with hurricanes going on around them (not directly impacted).

If I remember correctly, she had a stress test and said she felt bad or claimed to have an episode. Evan was upset he wasn't allowed to be present for the procedure. Results, according to them, claim nothing was wrong with regards to her heart during that. Previously they had claimed not to be happy because Evan and the kids were not allowed to be with her during the test. Now they are saying they have to arrange babysitters. Carlin seemed very happy at the idea of cameras watching her for five days. Or maybe I'm just projecting there. I was annoyed at their ignorance is basically willful ignorance. They don't want to learn anything. I'm wondering what happened to the creepy friend who seemed to always be around when Carlin's issues started. We were also gifted with the vowel song. I admit it has been a while since I studied education, but the memorization/song thing was never my favorite. Layla was asked by her mother how many vowels are there and what are they. She then sings the song. They go on about how smart she is knowing her vowels. Learning the alphabet, phonics, etc. is more important, in my opinion than memorization of things she doesn't understand or know. And I could scream at her little desk being pointed at a corner.

She says she is getting her multi-day EEG in early October. She and Evan are blaming doctors, nurses, etc. on the scheduling. They are also attempting to pad expectations that it is unlikely the test will show anything. Evan says that he may have to talk to the doctor because they understand that Carlin will essentially be sitting around. He thinks it would be better if she exerted herself to see if she had a seizure - he suggests a treadmill. They do plan to go to Jackson's wedding and will be staying in Florida to do some sightseeing. So the EEG must be around the first week. They answered a question about bullying. They joke about her bullying Evan and Layla bullying her. Then they say they haven't experienced much bullying since they were homeschooled. Finally they say there are mean people online. They are trying to find a dance class for Layla. Someone asked Carlin if she ever feels like a plastic bag. Evan clearly got the reference and eventually clued her into the Katy Perry song. Zade gets bonus points for turning out the big huge light on them. They managed to create an entire video without a single Tesla shot.

He went to Carson Newman and went to work for Nabisco. Zach made a comment once that Papa Bill valued people learning a skill. I think Gil did later in life. But it made me think this might have been a sore spot between Gil and his dad for a while.

It may be as simple as car space. Most of Whitney's kids are still in car seats. Kelly went but typically drives smaller cars. So if she had three and Michael has four, would there have been room for Layla and Zade? Then you have to consider strollers, diaper bags, etc. Kelly could have left Jeb, Jud, and Callie at home, but don't know that I have ever seen Kelly actually drive her grandchildren around or care for them long enough to make it around the zoo.

He's set himself up for success with a career like that and an education to actually run the business (even if it is from a Bible college. While I think his beliefs are crap, I applaud his determination to work for himself.

Bobby and Brandon (now Travis too) were a bit of an oddity for Gil's daughters. They tended to pick tradesmen (Kelton, Evan, and John) or men who were at least hobbyist in such areas (Chad). Gil could relate to that, using them for projects instead of being threatened by them. You could see on the show that Gil struggled to relate to Bobby and Brandon in the same way. There was an episode where Gil said Bobby could work for his church. You could tell Bobby is thinking youth pastor. He had him cleaning the church with Tori. Gil finally (a few years ago now) got his church and is clearly not going to give any power over to his more educated in that area sons-in-law.

My mother was in the more industrial end of fashion and retail sales. Typically your stores will purchase clothing 8-9 months before you plan to sell it. Photo shoots for promos are about six months out. At this point they are buying what other shops have rejected or things that are overstocked. I've often suspected that they (Carlin and Whitney) have no idea of the actual logistics. They probably order too much, too close to the season. For all the talk of long lines at the boutique warehouse or cash and carry sales, I notice we are rarely shown footage of people buying things there. They are turning it into a partial Bates family meet and greet. Evan's latest "b-roll" showed him signing autographs.

I can't see Bobby becoming a person like Hugh Hefner with seven bleach blonde girlfriends. However, I do find the leaving the church to be suspicious. Even if he left voluntarily under less than ideal (no notice or in the middle of a busy time) way, churches typically (not always) announce the leaving of an employee and wish them well publicly. "The Lord has called Bobby and Tori Smith back to her home." However, that silence says something. I could see him having a fling or even just spending too much time with one woman but not a slew of them. Fundy definitions of things are very odd. I know that the narrative has changed that Tori was shy and hated the camera and that is why they did not appear on the show as much after they returned to Anderson County. However, that doesn't really fit with what we saw of Tori in previous shows, including 19 Kids and Counting, as well as United Bates of America and early seasons of Bringing Up Bates. If she was shy, she did a great job of hiding it for 10 or so years. Lazy and apathetic, yes, but not shy.

Yes. He had plans to start his own plumbing business or take over his uncle's business. He learned how to be a plumber from family and then went to school to study business.

I'm guessing they know too. I think she may have learned from Erin and Alyssa who both are having or had a boy after a long wait. Alyssa, especially, has been criticized a lot for how she has reacted on camera to her first boy and how she has ignored the girls. When Erin did the gender reveal for Finley and Alyssa for Maci, there were many who interpreted their reactions as disappointed. Josie may not want that kind of criticism or critique or is being savvy about it.

That cracked me up about Erin. She kept asking about Tori (who was a newlywed at the time) and telling whoever to go over and knock loudly because they were probably asleep. I said to myself that they were probably in bed but that sleep was questionable.

I know they were saying they were going to sell it, but I don't know if they did.

I saw that. They aren't wrong. I am considering a move across the country. If I do that, I'm buying a new car instead of chugging along in my current car that is up there in mileage. Since I am moving (potentially) to a very green/ecofriendly place, I am looking at electric cars and such. I am doing well in terms of money so I don't worry too much about payments, but a Tesla is not a splurge I will make. I think Carlin/Evan and Whitney/Zach are in for a rude awakening if and when we have an economic downturn. There has not been a recession or worse with influencers being a thing. Frankly, I don't see most influencers lasting out a time when people are counting pennies. The boutique will suffer too. Clothing stores (other than children) decline during such times because people make due with last year's styles for one more year. I am sure it is fun to work with your husband (personally I'd go crazy) all day/every day. But that also means that their income isn't diversified at all. If the company fails to make a profit for whatever reason or the rent goes up on their warehouse/store, those two families are going to be scrambling. Zach and Whitney might be saving a little (they made a big car purchase too and have more mouths to feed), but nobody is convincing me that Carlin and Evan have saved a dime. Mr. I don't like to get dirty, Evan, is going to be hating life as an electrician if he is able to find a job in a bad economy. Zach is going to have to go back into law enforcement full time and/or hustle to cut some trees. Both of them are going to find it harder than when they were doing it before. And Carlin's going to have to get really creative to sell some $100 eyelash serum.

I am laughing (not that I wish the animals bad things) at Chad's dramatically sad tone and the oh so sad music in the background. Then cut to video of the children explaining what happened. Then there is Chad driving the children around with Carson/Charles hanging on the outside of the vehicle. That was a disturbing moment for me given I know of accidents that occurred when someone was hanging on the outside of golf carts, gators, or similar vehicles falls or loses their grip. One lost his foot when it tangled up with the wheel/tire. Another had multiple injuries in a similar situation.

With Carlin's complaints of headaches, dizziness, etc., I am not sure rides like that are the best solution. I get that you don't want to stop your life because of what might happen, but I for one get triggered on certain rides. Not smart. From my many times at Dollywood, I will say the cinnamon bread is the best thing there. It's meant for a small family to pull at and eat sort of like monkey bread but less messy (somewhat - lots of butter and cinnamon). Most people put the icing on it or dip it in the preserves, but I think it is good without it. It typically comes in sections of four. My girls are older now so we each have a section and fight over the fourth section. When they were little I would give them each a bite so that they weren't wanting mine.

Based on their convoluted logic and perspective, they misunderstood that they were supposed to request it/get it scheduled. They were under the assumption that it would be done for her. My interpretation is that the neurologist probably said something like, "we've done all we can do at this point and are not finding any signs or problems that would result in what you are experiencing. The only thing left would be an in-patient EEG over several days. That might help us capture one of your seizures on the machines." Carlin and Evan assumed that was what was going to happen and went on their merry, recording way. Carlin really isn't a great advocate for herself. She lacks the natural curiosity about herself or her kids. When Zade's tests came back high in lead, she mentioned that the doctor said it could affect his IQ among other things. She blew it off as him maybe needing extra help in school if that happened. She was confused about what his next appointment would be requiring. As someone who went through a lot of tests and switching to different specialists because the last one said it wasn't his/her/their area, I get that it is annoying. Doctors do speak hypothetically sometimes. When they thought I had a heart issue (turned out to be brain), the doctor mentioned a tilt table test. He said that one might help in the diagnosis. I said, "great sign me up." A month went by and I went in for my follow up. I had been calling to schedule the test and was told that the orders had not come through. In front of the doctor again, I asked about the test. He looked at his notes and didn't see anything about it. Then he said, "that might be a good test to see what's going on with you. Would you be willing to do that?" WTH? I'm an overeducated and well-read woman. I can't imagine that Carlin would be as persistent about such things.

Zade isn't that verbal yet, which is pretty normal for second children who have people speaking for him. Layla wasn't that verbal either at the same age, if I remember correctly. I think Carlin and Evan did the Sissy thing for Zade, if that makes sense, as they speak for him to her. "Brother wants Sissy to give him the ball." I think that Carlin picked up on it from Whitney who referred or refers to Kaci as Sissy, especially when it was just Bradley and Kaci. There were times on the show that Whitney would call Kaci Sis or Sissy. Layla is probably figuring it out in her head why most people have one name that Carlin/Evan call them and a different name for her to call them. Pre-K is one of the ages where that becomes evident. Why is he Daddy to me when Mommy calls him Evan? She wouldn't be able to explain it but she may think she needs to identify as her relationship rather than as her name - Sissy makes sense to her.

Yes, Layla has picked up on Sissy as her "name" probably because Zade may have a hard time saying Layla. It could be solved pretty easily by explaining to her that is what your brother calls you but to us you are Layla. Evan has said recently in a video that he was homeschooled too. I think his upbringing was conservative but not nearly so much as hers. I noticed that she would have episodes of crying and panic about him leaving her all day for work. She claimed to have anxiety about going to OB/GYN appointments for Zade because she was alone when she got the bad news they were going to deliver Layla early (not how it was portrayed on the show, but okay). I'm not a MD (PhD but no medicine), but I think that part of her issue is brought on by anxiety and stress. I say this as a person who has cataplexy without narcolepsy. If I become overly emotional or stressed I will fall down. I am aware so I'm not passing out. I was put through MRIs, heart tests, EEGs, etc. It was all coming back with no problems, but my issues persisted. It was finally diagnosed because I was in the doctor's office awaiting results and I overheard a nurse say something about how she didn't think there was anything wrong with me. I got upset and was going to walk out because I felt like a fraud. It happened in the hallway where they could all see. I don't see Carlin's issues as the same, but I would be surprised if there wasn't a tie with her emotions and mental state. I think they are both playing house and just trying to give the impression they know what they want in life and what they are doing. I understand that Carlin was apparently taking pics and video for Whitney's labor and delivery, but Evan needed to be home with the kids. They clearly don't get the idea of boundaries. Carlin was at one point on the bed with Whitney. It was shades of Katie's labor and delivery again where if you didn't know of the family you would have thought Evan and in this case Zach were a couple and Whitney was a surrogate for them.

I was expecting a sexed up version of the original Mickey Mouse Club with Tyra in glitter across her boobs.

That was my favorite performance for JoJo and Jenna. I don't like either of them, but for the first time this felt like they were dancing as partners and not just next to each other in similar costumes. They played Lion King music for her runway strut out so that's my guess.

Agreed. I realize there are exceptions to rules and certainly when she first tested positive I was supportive of him getting a fair shot by dancing with someone else and using that practice footage that particular week. And if there was a way to do it I am all for that. However, there seems to be a lot of jumping through hoops to get him to compete. Most of the pairs had styles of a tango or cha cha. He got jazz, which could be done more easily in separate spaces. This just becomes quite problematic in the long run. On another note, some of the stars were really reaching for their Spears connection. Some of them needed more mental gymnastics to make work than others.