They are all boys whom the couple have named Marvin, Melvin and Mervin. Bantom and Michelle have welcomed the triplets and regard them as their bundles of joy.

To them, the three boys are not identical but to a stranger they look the same.

However, Gavin confesses that there are times when he gets confused.  To him, two of the babies look the same but the other fellow is different.  

Gavin, from Cape Town said his family has a history of twins.  His mother had a set of twins as brothers.  His father also had a set of twins as his siblings.  Even in Michille's family, there are twins. 

Michelle said she was shocked and scared when she first learnt that she was carrying triplets in her first month of pregnancy. Even Gavin was shocked when his wife broke the news to him.

Michelle said her mother was also scared.  "Throughout the pregnancy, she didn't think I would survive.  It was difficult and painful because I was always in and out of hospital.  There were times when I would be crying the whole night because the pain was just unbearable," said Michelle.

Michelle is breastfeeding the boys.  But she has to supplement with formula milk and this is where the family is facing a difficulty.  Satisfying the appetites of triplets is like feeding an army. 

"They drink a lot of milk," said their mother. This is where the family's predicament lies.  A pint of formula milk costs around P180 and it hardly lasts for week for the three boys.  Michelle is contemplating appealing to the government for assistance.  It is no child's play for the family to feed the triplets.

Michelle, who works for a Gaborone company, said the triplets' diet is going to swallow all their earnings. Actually, their general upkeep is a heavy strain on the family's finances. This is her only concern, otherwise she is happy about her children. 

Her religious husband said their triplets are a gift from God. Michelle is assisted by a maid, Gavin and her mother, to look after the triplets.  But Michelle's will soon return to work.

Michelle does not think that she would have managed if it was not for Gavin's support. 

She said Gavin, who regards himself as a champion in baby sitting, is very supportive. 

Baby sitting is a role that Gavin is comfortable with because he used to look after his brother and cousin's children way back in South Africa.

When his wife is out, he tends to the triplets.  He does not even mind changing nappies.

"When they need to change nappies, I will change them," said the gentle giant of local music.

At night, the Bantoms hardly sleep.  Michelle says when they were still admitted at the hospital, the triplets were fed every three hours and this is a habit they have adopted. 

She has to wake up every three hours to feed them.  Fortunately for her, she said, the three boys are not troublesome.

Michelle resumes duty next month.  She said when she goes back to work, they will have to employ an extra maid to help look after the children.

Michelle's first born, nine year old Kitso, has welcomed his younger brothers.  Initially, Michelle said he was jealous because he was aware that they were going to steal all the limelight away from him.  But now he has accepted his rather unique siblings. 

Just before the interview he was looking at the family pictures in the living room and he pointed out that "there are three others boys".  Kitso also makes time to attend to his three younger brothers.