Christian couple have 13 sons; hope next child will finally be a girl

Jay and Kateri Schwandt are the proud parents of 13 boys, and they are expecting a 14th child - hopefully a girl - this year. (PHOTO: Facebook/Jay Schwandt)

After having 13 sons in the family, one would think that the chances of having a daughter are pretty much nil. But a Christian couple from Michigan still remain hopeful that their next baby would be a girl, although they aren't really getting their hopes up.

"I would love to have a girl, but I just don't think it's in the cards. The last couple, numbers 12 and 13, we kinda held out a little hope," Jay Schwandt told WoodTV about his next baby with wife, Kateri.

The two made headlines back in 2013 when they welcomed their 12th son, Tucker Ray, on August 4. When Kateri got pregnant again, Jay held out hope that they would finally get a girl. But when Kateri, who was 40 years old then, gave birth on May 2015, they got another boy and named him Francisco Matthew.

Their other kids are: Tyler, 24, Zach, 21, Drew, 20, Brandon, 18, Tommy, 15, Vinnie, 14, Calvin, 12, Gabe, 10, Wesley, 8, Charlie, 7, and Luke, 5.

While Jay and Kateri would love nothing more than to cradle a daughter in their arms, they would be happy nonetheless if they get another boy. "I'm thinking that this is it. It just feels like this is going to be it, and we're going to enjoy every second of it," said Jay.

Many people actually wonder how the devout Catholic couple manages to raise such a huge family, but Kateri said raising 13 boys is no different than raising three kids. "If you have three, it's the same as having 10 at this point, if you ask me," she said. "It's just more chaos, more noise. It's nothing we're not used to at this point."

And as far as finances are concerned, the Schwandts are in pretty good shape as well. "We wouldn't do it if we were struggling to get by, if we were living paycheck to paycheck," Jay said. "These are people that just don't know us."

News
Russian courts ban more Baptist churches in continued crackdown
Russian courts ban more Baptist churches in continued crackdown

Russian courts have banned three more Baptist churches affiliated with the Council of Churches Baptists in the southern region of Krasnodar amid an ongoing crackdown on unregistered congregations across the country.

Evangelicals offer praise for Armenia PM after he recites Bible at prayer breakfast amid church tensions
Evangelicals offer praise for Armenia PM after he recites Bible at prayer breakfast amid church tensions

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, under criticism from rights groups over his government's treatment of senior clergy from Armenia's national church, received strong praise from American and British Evangelical leaders after highlighting his record at the country's first national prayer breakfast on Saturday. 

Hollywood stars Cate Blanchett and Spike Lee meet Pope
Hollywood stars Cate Blanchett and Spike Lee meet Pope

Pope Leo XIV welcomed a group of Hollywood luminaries to the Vatican on Saturday, including Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett and director Spike Lee. 

The gift of fellowship in building one body in Christ
The gift of fellowship in building one body in Christ

There’s a saying that a lone coal grows dim, but coals heaped together glow red-hot. The same could be said of the Church.