Taking it day by day....

Life has been VERY busy for team Busse. The girls will be 6 months tomorrow and are doing great. They are almost sleeping through the night now..........we finally had to have a cry it out night, mom and dad couldn't take waking every 1-2 hours during the night to feed baby girls. Last night Ellah slept from 10-5:30am and Ashlyn 10-8:30am!!!!!!!!!! I am finally starting to feel some relief.

Life has been so crazy for us during the past year, I am anxiously waiting feeling "normal" again.....whatever that maybe. Here are a few photos. The first is of Ellah she loves to sleep in the Jumper and the second is of Ashlyn.

The girls turned 3 months on the 11th. Ellah is 10 pounds and Ashlyn is 10 pounds 12 ounces,

Good Bye

The last time that I saw my dad before his death was on June 16, 2008. Brian, Brandon and I took him to Murray's for Fathers Day. He liked Murray's. He took me there for the 1st time when I was about 10 and I ordered a hamburger. He always gave me crap about it. "Who orders a hamburger at Murry's" he would always say.

I didn't think that my dad looked very good that day. His skin tone was very gray and one side of his face was a little droopy. After we had dropped him off I said to Brian that "I didn't think my dad was going to be with us much longer." I didn't think that he would pass away that following August. There were many times that I would see him and he didn't look good and the next time I saw him he was looking good.

My dad would call me almost everyday and after that day I started saving his messages when I wouldn't answer. I didn't want to forget the sound of his voice. Every message that he would leave was the same. "Hi, Natalie! Just calling to say hi and see how everyone is doing. Tell Brian and Brandon I say Hi. I love you." About a week before he died, I thought that I was being silly and erased them all.

That summer I was really sick with morning sickness. I spent all day, everyday on the couch or in the bathroom. Whenever my dad would call, I wouldn't want to answer because I had nothing new to say. I was irritated many times because I was feeling so bad. I know he just wanted to say hi but, I had no energy to talk to anyone.

Why am I writing this......Last night I had the first dream about my dad since the day I picked up his ashes. That night I had a dream that his silhouette was standing in the doorway of my bedroom. I was so scared that I was screaming in my sleep Brian had to wake me up. Last night he said goodbye to Brandon and I.

Oh...so tired!

Ellah & Ashlyn

Things have been going here in the Busse household. Both girls are still getting up every 2.5-3 hours during the night to eat. Brian and I have been taking shifts on who is getting up with the girls. We are getting about 4-5 hours of sleep a night. It is just not enough!

Ashlyn Ellah

The girls are getting big. Both are smiling and cooing, it is very cute! Brandon is doing alright. He had been sick the past week with a cold and cough. I love it that my 3 year old likes to wipe his nose on what ever is closest. His shirt, the carpet, his socks......yummy. Brandon also learned what the tampon machine is in the unisex bathroom thanks to dad giving a little too much information.

Here is the conversation.......

Brandon-"What's that daddy"

Dad- "That's napkins"

B-"Why"

D-"It's for mommy's"

B-"Why"

D-"For their Vagina's"

B- "Why"

D-"Because they leak sometimes"

January

Ellah and Ashlyn Sleeping

Life has been uneventful lately. There is a lot of eating, sleeping and dirty diapers going on here in the Busse Household. We are still cooped up in the house and will be until the weather gets warmer. Going to the Y and grocery store are really the only places I have been going. Some days I feel like I might go crazy. We do appreciate the visits so thank you to all of you who take the time out of your busy schedules to visit us.

Brandon and Aidan

The girls are still doing fantastic!! We had a doctors appointment on today. Ashlyn is 8 1/2 pounds. She is our little oinker!! Ellah is 7 lb 13oz. They are on the growth chart for a full term baby....barely but they are there!!

Ellah

Ashlyn

Christmas with the Busses

Christmas was pretty low key for us this year. Usually, we celebrate with the Busses and have multiple Christmas celebrations on my side of the family but this year we stayed home. Our doctor is very concerned about the girls getting sick so we choose to stay in. Since the girls were premature, their lungs are not fully develop and if they do get the "flu" it can be very serious. We already spent a month in the NICU and we don't want to go back.

Mom and Jerry came over on Christmas Day and my Aunt Kathy and Grandma Fearing stopped by to visit. I was very thankful for the visitors because I was starting to feel a little lonely. Since the girls have been home we have been camping out in our family room. Getting out with 2 little ones and a 3 year old is difficult to say the least. Not to mention we don't want to expose the girls to any sickness. With the lack of sleep and isolation Brian and I are starting to lose it!! Visitors are welcome anytime!!! We are always home.

Ellah

We had another doctors appointment today and Ellah and Ashlyn are doing wonderful! Ellah is 6lb 2oz and Ashlyn is 6lb 11oz. Both girls have gained over 2 pounds since their birth.

Ashlyn

Brandon is still being a fantastic big brother. We are truly blessed with how wonderful he has been with the 2 new additions to our family.


I have been missing my dad lately. On Christmas Day it was 4 months since my dad died. I think of him and my Grandma everyday. I think of them more since they have passed on then when they were living. I have fantastic Christmas memories of my dad and grandma and am sad that we all won't be able to celebrate this year.

The flu strikes the Busse Kiddos

Lastnight was a nightmare!! Brandon had the flu lastweek and the girls came down with it yesterday. Thank God that it was only a 24 hour bug. We didn't get any sleep lastnight......as soon as you would get one of the girls calmed down the other one would start crying. Our patience was tested. 6 hours of crying and no sleep is enough to drive you crazy!!

Both of the girls are doing great since they have been home. Ellah is now 5lb 9oz and Ashlyn is 6lb 1oz.