Three's company: Amid similarities, Dubois triplets forge unique identities / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, November 17, 2008

From left, Erin Dubois-Hefner, Suzanne Dubois and Jennifer Dubois, all of Lawrence, were born identical triplets in Fort Scott in 1966. "Erin's the most rebellious and daring one," Jennifer Dubois said. "Susie is more stubborn and adventurous, and I'm the quiet, conservative one."

By Eileen Roddy

November 17, 2008

"Are you Erin?"

"You must be Susie?"

"No? Then who are you?"

"If I had a penny for every time I was asked those questions, I'd be a rich woman," says Jennifer Dubois, born the first of identical triplets at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott in May 1966.

The girls' mother knew they were coming. She was so big the hospital did an X-ray to see whether she was having multiple births.

Even with the development of modern fertility drugs, the chances of having identical triplets (originating from a single egg) have been placed as high as one in every 2 million births. The Dubois' births were even rarer. They were conceived naturally, went full-term and entered the world naturally with single-birth weights (unusual for multiples) within a span of 30 minutes. Jennifer weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces, Erin an ounce heavier and Susie 5 pounds, 5 ounces.

"Erin and I sucked two fingers, and Susie sucked her left thumb," Jennifer says, "but they still couldn't tell us apart. They named us A, B and C for the first few weeks and put that on our wristbands."

Their mom often dressed them alike as babies and toddlers because it was easier to mix and match clothes, but as soon as they were able to, she allowed them to choose what they wanted to wear themselves.

"Mom wanted us to have our own individuality," says Jennifer, who lives in Lawrence. "But we didn't have to try because we knew we were different. Most people didn't make the effort to distinguish us or get to know us individually. They often called us 'triplet' and didn't bother to learn our names."

They had different comfort blankets but had to share clothes, a room, toys and friends. Sharing birthdays was difficult, as they often had to share presents.

The girls were known to swap classes after they moved to Lawrence in second grade as they attended Centennial School, South Junior High School and Lawrence High School.

"Our teachers never found us out," Jennifer says.

Once in her early teens, Jennifer was asleep on the sofa when Susie's boyfriend came in.

"He leaned over, put his arms around me and had his face on mine ready to kiss me. I woke up and screamed," she laughs. "He nearly had a heart attack."

They still live in the same area (Susie in Perry, Erin in Lecompton), work in the same business (cleaning), wear the same size in shoes and clothes, like the same music, have similar views on most things, often finish one another's sentences, and have been known to blurt out the same thought simultaneously.

But though they're physically identical, their personalities are different.

"Erin's the most rebellious and daring one," Jennifer claims. "Susie is more stubborn and adventurous, and I'm the quiet, conservative one."

The triplets now have seven children, all single births. Jennifer, like Susie, has two boys, and Erin has two girls and a boy.

"Our children have never mixed us up. They just seem to know us instinctively," Dubois says. "People all over town still get us confused and sometimes they'll try to convince us we are who they think we are. It's quite funny at times."

Discussion

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17 November 2008
at 5:51 a.m.

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reason (Anonymous) says…

hello,
17 November 2008
at 10:01 a.m.

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coolmom (Anonymous) says…

the twin and i switch classes a few times and nearly drove a spanish teacher to drink lol. we were vastly different and yet still similar. the positives outweigh the drawbacks by far.
17 November 2008
at 10:06 a.m.

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xbusguy (Anonymous) says…

Cleaning…..what do they clean. Maybe they are like the TV show “the cleaner”
17 November 2008
at 3:48 p.m.

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thomgreen (Anonymous) says…

Single?
17 November 2008
at 4:10 p.m.

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jayhawkgrl (Anonymous) says…

The one on the left is and applications to date should be accompanied by a picture and sent to 3216 Saddlehorn Dr Lawrence, KS 66049
17 November 2008
at 4:50 p.m.

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flux (Anonymous) says…

WHAT?
17 November 2008
at 5:40 p.m.

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Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

I worked two jobs when I first moved to Lawrence. Once, at my evening job (a drug store), a customer looked at me funny & said she was sure she knew me from somewhere. I knew who she was and decided to have a little fun with her. I told her that my twin sister worked at xxx, and maybe she knew her. She totally fell for it and gushed over how much we looked alike. The next time I saw her at xxx, she told me she had met my twin at yyy, and couldn't believe how identical we were. I had fun with that for a few weeks before I told her the truth.

17 November 2008
at 7:04 p.m.

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Centurion (Anonymous) says…

“The Triplets” Haven't seen them all together since back in the good ol days. Hey Girls! … Tony
20 November 2008
at 7:07 a.m.

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gbaker (Anonymous) says…

I always thought they were HOT!!
21 November 2008
at 8:25 a.m.

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Reality_Check (Anonymous) says…

Subject of many boy's fantasies in the late 70s.