When Adam and Danielle Busby became the parents of the first surviving set of quintuplet girls
in the U.S. in 2015, the family landed its very own reality show, OutDaughtered on TLC
— starring Adam and Danielle, their older daughter Blayke, and the quints: Olivia Marie,
Ava Lane, Hazel Grace, Parker Kate and Riley Paige.
Anyone would have a hard time taking care of so many babies at once, but the Busbys
make it look simple.
And just how do they do it?
This is the untold truth of OutDaughtered!
A Target love story
The Busby family got its start when Danielle and Adam met as co-workers at Target.
They knew each other for months before Adam worked up the courage to talk to Danielle,
but according to her, their first date never happened because Adam hung out with his friends
instead.
Danielle later wrote on the family's blog,
"At this point I'm thinking, this guy […] who does he think he is, ditching me.
[…] I'm done with him."
Fortunately, Danielle gave Adam a second chance.
After two and a half years of dating, Adam surprised her with a proposal and they were
married six months later.
"We're so perfect together.. and even through the good times and the bad, I wouldn't want
anyone else by my side"
Eating for six
Growing quintuplets means that you have to eat a lot.
Danielle told Fit Pregnancy that she sometimes ate an astonishing 4,500 calories a day.
Fortunately, Danielle managed to avoid pregnancy cravings, saying,
"I had not one craving ever because I worked with a dietitian and I was able to eat pretty
much whatever I wanted to just fill up that allowance — especially ice cream shakes!"
All in
The Busbys got more than they hoped for when fertility treatments resulted in Danielle
conceiving five babies at once.
"You realize it's the next 18 years that you're responsible for five lives.
It's overwhelming"
But the couple rose to the challenge in spite of doctors' concerns.
Danielle told KTRK news,
"At first they didn't want us to have all five [but] our hearts just couldn't do that."
The girls were delivered by C-section at 28 weeks and 2 days.
And according to Adam and Danielle, their quints are a miracle; they told KTRK it was
their faith that pulled them through.
First touch
The Busby quints spent a couple of months in the hospital after they were born.
And Danielle and Adam had to wait a whole week before ever holding them.
Danielle told Today,
"It's been hard to see your baby in the isolettes, but that moment where you finally get to touch
your baby and hold them, there's no better feeling than that."
Adam's postpartum depression
"I'm not used to this."
"I want you to know whatever you're going through, I'm here to listen, or talk"
Showcasing how PPD can also affect men, Adam opened up about his struggles with depression
after Danielle had the quints.
"He was hiding from it.
Hiding it from himself because he didn't want to face it"
Adam said,
"This is a very real struggle that dads all around the world go through, yet you rarely
ever hear it talked about."
Adam hoped that by talking about his depression on the show, more people would learn how postpartum
depression can affect men.
"Just like this pounding weight in my chest"
He said,
"I'd be doing an extreme disservice to our fans if I hid this from the public and wasn't
honest with them."
Making ends meet
When Danielle became pregnant with the quints, they agreed she would quit her full time job,
leaving Adam as the main breadwinner, while Danielle stayed home with the girls.
"How are we gonna be able to afford one income...four years of college, you're looking at almost
2 million dollars"
She told People just how they do it, saying,
"We budget and we do what we can to make ends meet and make it work.
God has always provided, no matter what the situation.
[…] He's protecting and guiding us and providing […] and that's how we've done it!"
The money they make from OutDaughtered also goes toward providing for their family.
While their salary is kept secret, it's estimated that they could make up to a million dollars
per season.
Mister mom
Since he's, well, "outdaughtered," Adam has had to learn more about fashion and girls'
hairstyles than he ever expected.
"When you're in a house full of girls, you gotta do what you gotta do"
He told Parade,
"Usually the mom takes on [...] stuff like fixing hair, picking out outfits and matching
hair bows with outfits for the girls.
When you have six of them, you find yourself right in the middle of that.
I'm better with a round brush than Danielle!"
Adam is also very conscious about being a role model for his daughters, saying,
"It's a huge responsibility being a dad of a little girl.
Instilling confidence in her and truly showing her how her future husband, her future boyfriend,
should treat her — and teaching her not to accept anything less than that.
That's my mindset every day."
Danielle's at-home workout
Since she doesn't have much time to hit the gym, Danielle got back in shape by working
out at home.
"It's kinda like you find time to eat, you find time to sleep, I try to find time to
get some fitness in every day"
She wrote,
"To build strength, I do sit-ups and push-ups every day.
And forget about the Stairmaster — I utilize our staircase for daily workouts too, on top
of the 'workout' I get bringing five babies up and down the stairs all day."
And pushing her kids in the stroller also counts.
Danielle said that the total weight of the 6-seat stroller and the babies is around 200
pounds.
Will they try for a boy?
Some couples might want to try to have at least one boy, but these OutDaughtered parents
say they're done having kids.
In an interview with KPLC a few months after the girls were born, Adam said,
"Our family is complete.
All girls, not trying for a boy.
So it's over.
The shop is closed!"
Well, we can all agree that the Busby family is pretty perfect as it is.
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