A Michigan family welcomed their 12th child. And, shocker, it’s a boy just like the other 11.
Jay and Kateri Schwandt believed the latest baby might break the gender streak, especially after Ms. Kateri, known as Teri, was nine days past her due date. That was unusual for her pregnancies. But as it turned out, it was hardly a game-changer as a nurse at a Grand Rapids hospital announced delivery of another boy.
Tucker was 3.52 kilograms.
“Of course. There was a chuckle in the whole room,” Ms. Teri, 38, said told The Associated Press on Thursday. “I looked at my husband, and we exchanged a knowing smile. When they said it’s a boy, I think, OK, no problem. I’ve got this. We know what we’re doing.”
Tyler is the oldest son at 21. When the school year starts, three Schwandt boys will be in high school, while five brothers are in lower grades. That leaves three more at home with Teri.
Ms. Teri has a sister in the Detroit area, Kate Osberger, who has 10 children of her own. Yep, all sons.
At home, half of the 12 sleep in two bedrooms with bunk beds. Teri has a rule of no more than one pair of shoes for each kid in the entryway. Once the boys hit sixth grade, they do their own laundry.
“Someone’s responsible for unloading the dishwasher and loading it. Someone vacuums the stairs,” said Jay. “We heat the house with wood. We’re cutting wood, hauling it and stacking it. They may not like it but they know they need to pitch in.”
Ms. Teri said she’s only known the gender of two babies before they were born. Believing a girl might arrive this time, the family settled on Jaynie for a name, a play on Jay’s name. It wasn’t needed, of course.
“He would love a little girl,” Ms. Teri said. “He’s never done a daddy-daughter dance.”
Maybe he’ll still get the chance.
“Possibly,” Ms. Teri said of more children. “We never close that door.”
