Nine women who work at Rose Haven Nursing Home in Marengo are expecting - from left to right with their due dates are Kambrie Heyvaert (November 30), Stacy Horvath (December 15), Kandi Mumby (December 20), Tffany Arens (February 25), Jasmine Deeley (March 11), Shannon Doty (March 14), Natasha Johnson (March 15), Randi Roggentien (April 10) and Jewel Ludovissy (May 20).(Rose Haven photo)

MARENGO — Kambrie Heyvaert of Marengo, expecting her first child this week, started something.

Up and down the halls of Rose Haven Nursing Home in Marengo, you can find nine women walking around with baby bumps.

“I think it’s pretty funny,” says Kambrie, who has worked in housekeeping a year. “I guess I kind of started the whole thing.”

Yep, nine women workers are pregnant. The care center employs 65 people, six of them men. That means 9 out of 59, or 15 percent of the women, are pregnant

“We all joke, don’t drink the water,” laughs Holly Welsh, director of nursing. “I’m proud to say, I’m not in that group. I’m 40 and I’ve got two teenagers.”

The pregnant women, ages 20 to 41, hail from Amana, Williamsburg, Blairstown, Belle Plaine and Marengo.

They are Kambrie, who is expecting a girl on Friday; Stacy Horvath, in human resources for three years, expecting a boy on Dec. 15; Kandi Mumby, who works with dietary requirements, a girl on Dec. 20; Tiffany Arens, activity coordinator assistant for 3 1/2 years, a boy on Feb. 25; Jasmine Deeley, a CNA for six months, a girl on March 11; Shannon Doty, a CNA for two years, a girl on March 14; Natasha Johnson, a CNA for six months, a boy on March 15; Randi Roggentien, a licensed practical nurse and care conference coordinator for six years, due on April 10; and Jewel Ludovissy, a restorative aide in rehab with 21 years at Rose Haven, due on May 20.

Because the women work different shifts, Sharon Fry, activities coordinator, was able to line up seven of them for a photograph. Chairs with signs stood in for the absent two.

“It’s all good,” Sharon says. “Everybody had to go through the morning sickness and stuff. They were pretty good campers getting through it.”

And Sharon says the 55 residents are excited.

“We’re pretty elated,” she says. “We’ve got so many. Everybody’s waiting for the first one.”

Yes, for five of the women, this will be their first child, including Randi, who isn’t due until April. What if her child arrives on April Fools’ Day?

“My husband (Jason, who works in computers) would have a hay day with that,” she laughs.

But, nine women pregnant isn’t an April Fools joke or even a line from the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” It’s the circle of life at Rose Haven Nursing Home.