7-7-14 Spencer update

Today Spencer is one month old! We feel a combination of emotions - Wow, how could he already be a month old? and Wow, that was a long 30 days. Either way, we are so happy Spencer is alive and doing so well.

Spencer is currently 30 weeks gestation.

Weight: His current weight is 3 lb 1 oz.

Eating: He currently eats 26 cc/3 hours. His milk is being fortified with extra calories to help him grow

Breathing: Spencer is doing well. He is still just on a little bit of CPAP pressure to keep his lungs from completing collapsing when he exhales. However, in the last week or so his oxygen levels have been yo-yoing a bit. They took a chest x-ray the other day and things look good, so it is probably just his immature lungs trying to learn how to breathe. We will just have to wait and see.

Spencer still has a lot of maturing to do before the hospital will say he is ready to come home but there are some fun milestones coming up in the next few weeks -

At 32 weeks Spencer can start wearing clothes! At 34 weeks Spencer can attempt breastfeeding. If he is regulating his temperature well, he may also be put in an open-air crib. He will also start something called 'cycled lighting' where they keep the lights on during the day and off at night to start teaching him the difference between day and night. If Spencer continues to do well and hit the necessary milestones, he should be able to come home in the next 8-10 weeks.

The reality of driving back and forth to Omaha to see Spencer has started to settle in. We are in a bit of a routine and Carter seems to be doing a little better as well.

We owe thanks to so many people who are helping us with meals, cleaning, mowing, babysitting, and also those who are encouraging us through text, email, phone calls and prayer. When people ask how they can help, the biggest things have been meals for our family, gas money and coffee! Everyone has been so great to provide all three of those things! It is truly taking an army to keep Spencer well and all of us functioning. We are so grateful for all of you.

If you are one of those who offered to bring us meals, we finally got our act together. My friend Courtney put together a sign-up link below with some specific dates (thank you!)or you can also find it on my Facebook page -

Meals for the Schafers

Here are some recent pictures of Spencer and kangaroo time -