02 January 2024 , 12:06
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A couple have welcomed baby number 19 - but haven't ruled out another so they can have an equal number of boys and girls. Desiree Hart-Spegal, 35, has a giant blended family with her husband, Chris, 42, and they have raised 10 girls, and nine boys together.
The pair have eight children together – Christa, eight, Izabella, seven, Christopher Jr, six, Lily, five, Heavenly-Grace, four, Elliesiah, three, Breiella, one and Zeke, who is six months old. Desiree has three children from previous relationships - Maliki, 18, Makaila, 17, and Andrew, 10.
Chris had eight children before meeting Desiree - Skyler, 21, Gavin, 20, Braden, 19, Kaden, 16, Jayden, 13, Sarayia, 13, and twins, Chevelle and Donny, 10. But the couple, who own a car dealership together, don’t plan on stopping and Desiree who "enjoys pregnancy " wouldn't say no to baby number 20.
Desiree, from Forth Worth, Texas, US, said: "We're really fertile. We have 10 girls and nine boys. I'm open to having a twentieth baby - to make it even. I don't mind having more." After meeting through mutual friends in October 2013, Desiree and Chris had a whirlwind romance and married in July 2014.
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They started trying for a baby straight away and welcomed Christa, eight, in June 2015. The couple moved from a four-bedroom house to a 3,700 square foot property to make room for their growing family. Now they all together - apart from Gavin and Skyler who live in Spokane, Washington - in a six-bed house.
Two older boys share a room while three younger boys share another. They have an older girls room with three girls, a mid-aged girls room with three girls and a younger girls room with four girls. Desiree, who shares her room with her husband and their baby, stays on top of her busy household by keeping organised.
She said: "I'm good at remembering dates and I'll always be getting them to tidy up a few times a day, so it is not a mess at the end. At mealtimes, I lay out all the plates in lines for the different age groups so I can easily dish out their portion sizes."
The family had thought their "baby-making season" was over after welcoming Briella in January 2022, but were delighted when they fell pregnant in December 2022. They found out they were expecting a boy in January 2023.
Desiree said: "We wanted another boy. We were super excited." Baby Zeke was born naturally on June 15, 2023, and the family can't wait for their first Christmas with him. Desiree spent £6k on presents and the Christmas dinner this year.
She bought her middle children an iPad each and her youngest's got tablets. The family had a prime rib of beef and vegetables for their dinner - costing £200 in total. Desiree said: "I'm was so excited to give the kids gifts." Desiree loves being a mum of so many and never "slacks" to keep on top of it all.
She said: "I'm better being a mum than preventing it. You can't slack because it's always overwhelming." Desiree thinks 2024 may bring another addition into their family - and she's already been taking pregnancy tests.
She said: "I love having so many children. We're a perfectly imperfect blended family. We just keeping going and going." Chris said: “Now I do love everybody’s personality. All their different personalities and watching them grow. It’s my favourite. It’s really the greatest adventure of my life. I think of all of our lives. Let’s be honest, I’m beyond blessed.”