Is The Octuplets Home Safe?

Lara Spencer Of "The Insider" Asks Octomom Nadya Suleman & Her Mother Some Hard Questions

(CBS)  How the mother of octuplets, Nadya Suleman, is going to take care of them and their six siblings is one of the questions that Lara Spencer, the host of "The Insider" recently asked when she sat down with Nadia Suleman and her mother, Angela Suleman.

Spencer joined Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith from "The Insider" studio in Los Angeles.

"As you know every day there is a new headline, not all of them nice. Everyone in the country seemingly knows something about Nadya Suleman. Many do not agree with her decision to carry eight more babies to term so we wanted to give Nadya the chance to answer some of the negative backlash about how she will care for her 14 children," Spencer told Smith.

"The Insider" went inside Suleman's cramped home, where there were duct taped vents, holes in the walls and Magic Marker stains on the doors - the very place where eight tiny babies will soon arrive.

"On a serious note, how are the conditions at the house? Is it a clean, safe place?" Spencer asked.

"I don't believe it's safe enough for the kids at this moment. So that's what I'm trying (to do) every day, that's what I'm thinking about, get rid of this, that," Nadya Suleman said.

"Not for the babies. I believe we try to clean it as much as possible, but it's an old house and there's six little kids living there! Well, I love my grandchildren so I don't mind, it's for them I did it. Sorry, not for my daughter," Angela Suleman said.
"How does it feel that your home has been taken over," Spencer asked.

"Well, I love my grandchildren, so I don't mind. For them, I did it," Angela Suleman said.

"Now the possibility of foreclosure. You and your 14 kids could be out on the street. Do you have a plan?" Spencer asked.

"I do have a plan, every single day, that's why all these little things, these lies here and there, I have no room for them in my mind," Nadya Suleman said.

"She says she has a plan, but I'm listening to what she has to say, and the reality looks like two different things," Smith said.

"The reality is that her plan is that she hopes it will work out. I asked her point blank. 'What is the plan? Tell me what a day looks like in your vision with 14 kids?' And she said, 'You know what? I'll make it work out,'" Spencer said.

"What did she say when you asked her about having all of the eggs implanted," Smith asked.

"Harry, this was so interesting to me and I think this is what's most disturbing to everybody. She felt like she needed to do that, because she considered those fertilized eggs to be lives, just like a 10-year-old child," Spencer said.

So, Nadia Suleman implanted the eggs, thinking maybe she would get one, perhaps two more, which is the big problem that a lot of people have, Spencer explained.

"'Why have anymore when you have six healthy?" Spencer asked. "I believe there's a little selective interpretation of God's will. She wasn't able to have babies, so she used science to intervene, and now that there are eight babies, suddenly it's God's will. So there's a little confusion as to what is God's will and what she needs help with from science. And now we have 14 babies so dependent on her," Spencer said.

Dr. Phil McGraw also interviewed the Sulemans and told Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen he feels the impact of what's happened is only now beginning to hit Nadya.

Watch "The Insider" tonight to see more of Lara Spencer's interview and all this week to get the most up-to-date information on the octuplets.

[barbara-in-pa]

In the 1900's a family with 14 children usually didn't include octuplets, I would guess. In a family of 14 children, the older ones took care of the younger ones. They weren't all the same age! Also, they didn't have very good birth control in those days, so I would guess that the most of the parents would not have 14 children if they could have chosen not to.

My mother's mother (born in 1881), and my mother's father, each had a lot of siblings, at least 8 each.

Also, in the 1900's, there were not over 6 billion people on the planet.

Apparently the mother of the octuplets thought of all the fertilized eggs as her children, and she could not bear the idea of destroying them or donating them to someone else. I wonder what the doctor was thinking.

I just cannot imagine trying to take care of 14 children including 8 premature octuplets. It seems to me she is not in her right mind.

[ReginaFilangee]

I think it's satisfyingly ironic, andie, that Nadya's own actions and words are merely serving to even further solidify the mounting evidence that she is not capable of psychologically, physically, or financially providing any type of decent home life for these children where they can even survive without permanent damage, least of all one where they can thrive and flourish.

The more she says, the worse off she is making things for herself. I can guarantee you that CPS is keeping it all on file, ready to use for the benefit of the children.

I can't even make myself care anymore whether or not Nadya receives treatment for her mental illness....since she has shunned all attempts for anyone to help her in that capacity. All I care about is that those tiny lives who are already suffering (at the hand of their own mother, no less!!) be rescued from her custody and placed into homes where they can experience what true parental love is.

[andie52]

ReginaFilangee -more of the story:

After a meeting set up with her for last Monday, but Suleman never showed.
They say Suleman seemed more interested in capitalizing on her infants than caring for them -- by asking to do a reality show -- and hold press conferences every two weeks updating the babies' conditions.
"I told her a reality show is a definite no," said Linda West Conforti, Angels In Waiting. "I educated Nadya that we would have a total of 28 people a day in our home and that her preemies are an open Petri dish due to their low immune system."

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=6683056

[luv4art]

I read in the state of Cal. she will also now be eligible to receive benefits of $700 per octuplet for a year because they are preemies,..this is on top of all the other benefits she is getting from the other 3 (one who has ADHD)and lets not forget her own monthly " compensation check" (bad back my ass), including food stamps is now receiving over $4,500.00 per month (and soon will get much, much more), this is not even including web site???? What a abuser of the system!!

After watching Dr. Phil,...and seeing him plea with his viewers to give her more,...I decided she should live with Dr Phil and Robin since they think she is capable of raising them and since he also "broke through to her" on the show (what a crock). I don't even think she raise the first 6, she just gives them to her mom and goes on her way,..she seems very spoiled by her parents who are enabling her to do as she pleases with no concerns. I also read she does not plan on receiving help from "Angels in Waiting" who would care for her children and keep them safe,..this is because she is planning her own reality show and the non profit organization "Angels in Waiting" would not allow cameras to be present while they cared for her 8 preemies and other children,..so she is unwilling to except their help based on this,...unbelievable and selfish, this could save their lives!!

All this got me thinking,.. maybe I'll start my own web site and ask for help so I can just stay home with my kids and kiss and play with them. I also have a child with ADHD ,..maybe I should get money for him too? I am tired of working to pay my bills,..After all Nadya stated some parents don't hug and kiss their children enough and that is the real tragedy,....gee Nadya, some of us don't have the opportunity like you sit home all day or the nerve,.. we have something called J O B to support our children (and now yours)....

Hey all don't forget to visit my new web site "givetillithurtsdumbass.com"

[ReginaFilangee]

" According to the agency's staff, Suleman had voiced concern that the agency would not allow a reality television crew into the new home, fearing the babies' health would be endangered."--Posted by andie52 at 7:02 AM : Feb 28, 2009

The NERVE of them!!!!!! Insisting that the babies have what is best for them, and protecting them from harmful influences like that.

What in the world were they THINKING!?! Sheesh!!!!

You'd think that they.....oh, I dunno.....have the best interests of the CHILDREN as their prime focus or something.

[ReginaFilangee]

"Stop judging her and just let her be a mother!!!"--Posted by haley0130 at 4:54 AM : Feb 27, 2009

The problem is, haley, that she is UNABLE to be a mother physically, emotionally, and financially. She keeps proving that over and over again.....every time she opens her mouth, in fact.

There's no "letting" her.....she CANNOT do it.

IF she were putting her children's welfare and well-being over and above her own (as she should be doing at ALL times during their lives), she would have jumped on the offer of the AIW with overwhelming gratitude that they were willing to do that for her.
But nope....since it's not on HER terms (by giving her the money directly to do with as she pleases), she turned her back on it. And in doing so, she has essentially turned her back on her children. She should not be allowed to retain custody of ANY of them, since her ACTIONS and ATTITUDE throughout this entire saga have not changed. She is still so focused on HERSELF that she is unable to clearly see what her children NEED in order to have a decent shot in life after all the emotion and physical handicaps she has inflicted upon them through her childish choices thus far.

I wouldn't trust her to take care of and raise a litter of puppies (which is how she apparently sees her children, based on what she's said and done) properly, much less trust her to take care of and raise 14 children, the majority of whom have severe special medical needs BECAUSE OF HER.

[andie52]

Two weeks ago, the Christian group Angels In Waiting offered to raise money to provide 24-hour care for the babies and a house. The California agency assists medically fragile foster care infants and children.

The group is represented by feminist lawyer Gloria Allred. In an e-mail, she said Suleman failed to respond by a deadline, essentially turning down the offer.

According to the agency's staff, Suleman had voiced concern that the agency would not allow a reality television crew into the new home, fearing the babies' health would be endangered.

Why is she concerned about reality tv crews? It's still all about Nadya.

[mdalerwill]

Back in the early 1900's it wasn't odd for a women to have many children. My Grandmother has 14 siblings and my Great Grandmother 11 siblings. Stop judging her and just let her be a mother!!!
Posted by haley0130 at 4:54 AM : Feb 27, 2009

Just for the record, in 1900 we didn't have 6.7 BILLION people on a planet designed to support 2 billion. And it would be GREAT if Nadya would be a mother. So far HER MOTHER is busy being the mother to the children. How about you and other people stop ENABLING her?

[andie52]

You I know what she did was not very smart, but people need to stop saying things about her and offer help. She is a good mother from what I have seen and not a drug user or worse. She just wanted kids!! Who is to say how many children a women can have? Isn't it her choice?? I think who ever said they may not come home with her is stupid. Ever child needs a mother no matter how many siblings there is. Back in the early 1900's it wasn't odd for a women to have many children. My Grandmother has 14 siblings and my Great Grandmother 11 siblings. Stop judging her and just let her be a mother!!!

---------------------------------------------

In the 1900?s the infant and child mortality rate was extremely high plus and families had working farms so they needed to have more children. I find it hard to believe that anyone who has followed this saga from the very beginning could have any sympathy for Nadya. If you have the time; type her name or Octo mom into a search engine or watch some of her TV interviews online; it shows that she is not just a normal woman who wanted umpteen children.

[haley0130]

You I know what she did was not very smart, but people need to stop saying things about her and offer help. She is a good mother from what I have seen and not a drug user or worse. She just wanted kids!! Who is to say how many children a women can have? Isn't it her choice?? I think who ever said they may not come home with her is stupid. Ever child needs a mother no matter how many siblings there is. Back in the early 1900's it wasn't odd for a women to have many children. My Grandmother has 14 siblings and my Great Grandmother 11 siblings. Stop judging her and just let her be a mother!!!

[ReginaFilangee]

""I don't believe it's safe enough for the kids at this moment. So that's what I'm trying (to do) every day, that's what I'm thinking about, get rid of this, that," Nadya Suleman said."

And she's already known for what.....about 8 months now that she would be adding 5-7 new babies to this household and took NO STEPS in all that time to rectify it before now????????

Yeah, that's good planning, Nadya. What a great mother you'll be. *eyeroll*

[ReginaFilangee]

" What difference does it make now. THE BABIES ARE HERE !!! In the interest of the children (all 14 of them) we should be supporting her and helping her. Maybe she does have issues but more important she has 14 children. Lets stop bashing mom and think instead about the children."--Posted by lonnay at 4:32 PM : Feb 26, 2009

That's precisely what we ARE doing, lonnay.....by advocating what's best for THE CHILDREN: to be removed from Nadya's custody and placed for adoption in homes where the "mother" isn't running around chasing butterflies and rainbows instead of taking care of them physically, emotionally, and financially.

The new babies don't even know her....so they won't miss her a bit. (Just like with any adoption.) The singular babies could be placed into separate homes, and there are many loving, CAPABLE families who would be willing to adopt the twins as a set.

The oldest 6 should be kept together if at all possible, or split into no more than 2 homes. It would be ideal if they could be adopted by the grandmother, but taking care of them is already too much for her---Nadya has made HER do most of the grunt work as far as that goes.

I can hear some of you screaming, "but it can't be good to separate brothers and sisters like that!!!!" HELLO....the above scenario would be INFINITELY BETTER than what they have now, and being adopted to separate families as newborn infants hasn't had any significantly detrimental effect on any children that I've ever heard of.

[ReginaFilangee]

"Had this woman, who could not support the six children she already had, chosen to donate her unused embryos to several other couples, they all would have had miracles, just without the cerebral palsy, asthma, vision problems, mental deficiency, poor motor skills, and lest we forget the heart problems, lung problems, seizures. Of course, that would have involved this woman putting someone else before herself, which would have been the biggest miracle."--Posted by mdalerwill at 9:05 AM : Feb 26, 2009

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet she's STILL putting herself first....way above her children.

And did you notice the smug grinning to herself when Dr. Phil was questioning her mother about how Nadya had lied and manipulated her? She's freaking PROUD of herself over this!!!!!!!! The woman exemplifies narcissism to the extreme.

[ReginaFilangee]

"...i really dont care how depressed you were, or how lonely you were, everyone is depressed, everyone is lonely, but they dont go around mixing embroyos in petri dishes OVER AND OVER AND OVER to make them feel better. holy cow."--posted by janie_super at 11:32 AM : Feb 25, 2009

Very well stated!!!!

[lonnay]

What difference does it make now. THE BABIES ARE HERE !!! In the interest of the children (all 14 of them) we should be supporting her and helping her. Maybe she does have issues but more important she has 14 children. Lets stop bashing mom and think instead about the children.

[Seattlemom]

Words cannot express the disgust and anger I have toward this irresponsible woman. Her stupidity and selfishness is beyond comprehension. These children.......all 14 of them will be on the US payroll for the next 18 years. I hope and pray the babies are taken away from her and placed in homes where they don't have to beg for attention with 13 other attention starved children! Stupid, stupid, ignorant woman!!

[andie52]

I'm glad to see others defending Nadia. This poor mom can use all the support she can get! Go to my site to help Nadia get what she needs to take care of her family. www.supportfornadia.blogspot.com Hopefully we can make a difference! Posted by Mom_of_3_Girls at 10:16 AM : Feb 26, 2009

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How can anyone who has followed this dog and pony show from its onset have any sympathy for her?
I?m glad the child protective and the hospital will be involved in this. And those children deserve better than a mother who had babies and thinks of them as her siblings because she was an only child.
Give her diapers etc. but do not give her money she has plenty and so does her family after being paid thousands of dollars by TV shows.
She is waiting for the big payoff that will never come; a home for life and people who will care for her 14 children because she isn?t mentally equipped to do so.

[mdalerwill]

Hopefully we can make a difference!
Posted by Mom_of_3_Girls at 10:16 AM : Feb 26, 2009

I'm already making a difference, with my tax dollars. (And you'd think they'd at least spell her name right. What's up with that?)

[Mom_of_3_Girls]

I'm glad to see others defending Nadia. This poor mom can use all the support she can get! Go to my site to help Nadia get what she needs to take care of her family. www.supportfornadia.blogspot.com Hopefully we can make a difference!

[mdalerwill]

no one is taking into account that these babies are miracles!
Posted by glenbenne3 at 4:47 PM : Feb 25, 2009

Yep, and because of the way their mother chose to behave, this is what they have to look forward to: A study published in JAMA in 2005 followed over 200 ELBW babies until age 8 and found 14 percent to have cerebral palsy; 21 percent to have asthma; 10 percent to have vision worse than 20/200; nearly 40 percent to have an IQ lower than 85, which approaches a mental deficiency; and nearly 50 percent with poor motor skills.

Had this woman, who could not support the six children she already had, chosen to donate her unused embryos to several other couples, they all would have had miracles, just without the cerebral palsy, asthma, vision problems, mental deficiency, poor motor skills, and lest we forget the heart problems, lung problems, seizures. Of course, that would have involved this woman putting someone else before herself, which would have been the biggest miracle.