Home for the Holidays

Olivia and Caleb Coleman celebrate having both of their babies home for Christmas, after 80 days in the NICU
By Madeline Haak

photo by shane darby.

For some, the biggest holiday conundrum is deciding on the appropriate time to put up the tree and bring out the Christmas decorations. Olivia and Caleb Coleman, Texarkana natives and new parents to twin girls, have been facing much bigger challenges as the holiday season approaches.

When a pregnant Olivia’s water broke at 27 weeks, she was taken to Little Rock, admitted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), and prescribed six weeks of inpatient bedrest. At 33 weeks, On August 31st, 2025, she gave birth to her premature girls. Margot arrived at four pounds and six ounces, while Winley May weighed just three pounds and eleven ounces. 

“Margot came out loud and proud with her hand raised in the air; we say she was praising the Lord,” Olivia said. “A wave of relief came over me hearing her cry, then I held my breath again to hear Winley. Winley came out two minutes later with her little cry. Caleb and I both were so relieved. We knew we still had a long road ahead, but we were grateful they were here safe.”

Margot and Winley were allowed bonding time during their long NICU stays. submitted photo.

Margot spent two months and six days at UAMS. Winley spent 80 days in the NICU before finally being brought home on November 19th. With both babies finally home, Olivia and Caleb are trying to get in the spirit of the season.

“I found myself longing last Christmas for children, and, this year, that prayer has been answered,” Olivia said. “Being with my family for Christmas and getting to be here as the girls’ mother—I could not ask for more. This is the Christmas we felt complete. A new sense of joy has come this year because of them—another thing to celebrate and a dream come true.”

Caleb and Olivia were married in October 2022. photo by cydni lauren photography.

The family is establishing a tradition of buying each daughter a nutcracker every year.

“Caleb buys me a Santa every year for Christmas, and we wanted to do something similar for the girls,” Olivia said. “Also, Caleb and his family have had the ‘real Santa’ over every year the day before Christmas Eve ever since he was a baby, and I’m so excited for us to have a photo with Santa and the girls, to carry that tradition on with our kids.”

Olivia and Caleb vacationed at Miramar Beach in 2023. submitted photo.

Christmas traditions are not the only thing that Olivia wants her children to cling to as they grow up.

“I want them to know they will always have more strength than they think they do,” she said. “When your mind tells you that you can’t do it, you don’t always have a choice, and you will find a way. If they can beat the odds of their beginning, they can face any other giant in this world, and they will have us backing them.”

Caleb and Olivia’s marriage has only grown during this period of navigating newness and struggle. 

Olivia held Margot’s hand at UAMS, just thirty minutes after the twins’ birth. submitted photo.

“Becoming parents has made our relationship with each other even stronger,” Olivia said. “Seeing the way Caleb took care of me through all of this and staying by my side in some of the darkest and hardest times of my life made me love him even more. I am so happy my girls will have a perfect example of the type of man they should marry one day.”

Olivia has also learned invaluable lessons about herself and grown in her faith during this period of trials.

In Olivia’s arms for the first time, Margot weighed just four pounds, six ounces. submitted photo.

At birth, Winley (pictured here with her father, Caleb) weighed less than four pounds. submitted photo.

“Someone asked me once, ‘Why do you think this happened to you?’ and I say it’s because I will not be quiet about how good God is,” she said.

Olivia believes that her faith and trust in God’s plan is what carried her through the most difficult times she and Caleb faced while seeing their girls struggle. 

“If I did tattoos, I would get it tattooed on me: ‘Your 41 is coming,’” she said. She was referring to the multiple instances in the Bible of 40 days or years of struggle followed by relief on the 41st day or year: “David defeated Goliath on day 41. Jesus fasted for 40 days and [was] tempted by the devil, but on day 41, the devil fled. I clung to this and said, ‘Our 41 is coming.’ Margot came home when she was 41 weeks gestational, and that’s not a coincidence.”

The community surrounding the Colemans has also been pivotal in supporting them.

“I cannot even put into words how thankful I am and awestruck by the ways my friends, family, and community helped us in this journey,” Olivia said. “I truly have the most amazing people in my life.”

photo by shane darby.

If she could give any advice to other moms who find themselves in a situation similar to hers, Olivia would encourage them to give themselves grace along the journey and remember that they are setting an example for their children to admire.

“For the moms waiting and worrying with their babies in the NICU: you are unleashing a strength you didn’t know you had,” she said. “It seems like the NICU never ends, and it truly is like a roller coaster, but you will get to be the one rolling your baby out in a stroller going home one day. When your baby sees you, they see strength, comfort, their home, love, their best friend, and a woman who never gives up. It will seem like the longest time of your life, but your 41 is coming, too.”