Millie Update
Millie is doing good today, and we are so thankful that there have been no major changes. Right now, we are learning to appreciate the quiet, steady days because every day that she remains stable is a blessing. She continues to tolerate her high-flow oxygen of 2 liters really well, which is something we are incredibly grateful for. Her ability to remain comfortable and stable on her current support gives us hope and reminds us just how strong our little girl is.
We tried offering Millie her bottle again today. We were hopeful that she might be interested in practicing, but apparently, Millie had other plans! She decided that sleep was much more important and fell asleep pretty quickly after we started. Even though she did not take very much, she was still able to get a little bit, and we are celebrating that small accomplishment. We know that progress does not always happen as quickly or in the way we expect, so we are trying to take each little victory as it comes. We will give her another opportunity tomorrow and continue encouraging her as she learns and grows. We are so proud of every effort she makes, even when those efforts seem small to us.
Millie has also been a little cranky today because she has been having some trouble pushing to poop. It is hard to watch her get uncomfortable and struggle, especially when there is not much we can do to make it easier for her. Thankfully, she is still able to get it out on her own, even though it takes some work. We are thankful for that, and we are praying that she will soon be able to go more comfortably and without so much effort. It is amazing how the smallest things can become such a big part of our day when you are caring for a little one in the NICU. Something as simple as a bowel movement can become something we celebrate and pray about!
As we look ahead to tomorrow, we have a lot on our hearts. Please continue to pray for us as we talk with more people and keep searching for a way to get back to Cox. This has been such an uncertain and emotional journey, and we are doing everything we can to find a path forward. Our hearts are longing to return to our Cox NICU family. We miss them so much, and we are praying so hard that a door will open for us soon.
There are so many details and circumstances that are outside of our control, which can be difficult to accept. We wish we could simply make a plan, know exactly what is going to happen, and get Millie where she needs to be. But right now, we have to take things one day at a time and trust that God is already working, even when we cannot see what He is doing. We are praying that the right people will be placed in our path, that the right conversations will happen, and that somehow a way will be made for us to return to Cox soon.
More than anything, we ask that you continue praying for Millie. Please pray that her lungs will keep growing stronger each day. Her little lungs have already fought so hard, and we pray that they will continue developing and becoming stronger so that she can eventually need less respiratory support. Every step forward, no matter how small, means so much to us.
Please also pray for her heart—that it will remain strong and steady. We are constantly thankful for every stable moment and every sign that her little body is continuing to work hard and grow. She has already shown us so much strength, and we continue to pray for that strength to carry her through every challenge ahead.
Please pray that Millie will be able to poop without pain, discomfort, or struggling. We know this may seem like such a small request, but when your baby is uncomfortable, it feels like anything but small. We just want her to be comfortable and peaceful. Please also keep praying for the stye on her eye. We are thankful that it has been improving, and we pray that it will continue to get better and completely heal.
Through all of the uncertainty, we continue to remind ourselves that we are not walking through any of this alone. There are moments when the unknown feels overwhelming, and there are certainly days when we wish we had clearer answers. But even in those moments, we know that the Lord is with us. He has been with us through every difficult conversation, every uncertain update, every hopeful moment, and every tear. He has carried us through days when we did not know what the next day would bring, and we know He will continue to carry us.
We may not understand His timing, and we may not know exactly what He is preparing for us, but we choose to trust Him. We believe that He sees the bigger picture when all we can see is what is happening right in front of us. We are praying for a way back to Cox, but we are also praying for the strength to trust God regardless of how or when that door opens. We know that His plans are greater than ours, even when waiting is difficult.
One of the greatest blessings throughout this journey has been seeing just how strong our sweet Millie is. She continues to fight, grow, learn, and surprise us. Even on days when she sleeps through her bottle attempt or gets frustrated trying to poop, she is still making progress in her own way. We are learning to celebrate the little things—the extra bit of milk she takes, the stable oxygen support, the moments when she is comfortable, and every sign that her body is growing stronger.
We are incredibly proud of our sweet girl. She has already taught us so much about strength, patience, faith, and perseverance. She may be tiny, but she has such a big fight in her. We are so thankful that we get to be her parents and walk alongside her through every part of this journey.
Thank you to everyone who continues to pray for Millie and for our family. We cannot fully express how much your prayers, encouragement, love, and support mean to us. Knowing that so many people are lifting our little girl up in prayer gives us strength on the hard days and reminds us that we are surrounded by so much love.
For tonight, we are thankful for another day with no major changes. We are thankful that Millie is tolerating her 2 liters of high flow well. We are thankful that she was able to take even a little from her bottle. We are thankful that she is still able to poop on her own, even though it has been difficult. And most of all, we are thankful for another day with our precious girl.
Tomorrow is another day, and we will take it one step at a time. We will keep praying, keep advocating for Millie, keep searching for a way back to our Cox NICU family, and keep trusting the Lord with every detail.|
Please continue to pray that a door will open for us to return to Cox soon, that Millie’s lungs will continue to grow stronger, that her heart will remain strong and steady, that she will be able to poop comfortably, and that the stye on her eye will continue to heal.
Through every uncertainty, we are holding tightly to our faith and trusting in the Lord’s plan and perfect timing. We may not know what tomorrow will bring, but we know Who is holding tomorrow.
We love our sweet Millie more than words can say, and we are so incredibly proud of her. She is our little fighter, and we will continue to stand beside her, pray for her, and celebrate every tiny victory along the way. ❤️