last post from china!!!

Well, this is it. We leave in 2 hours for Hong Kong. Bags are packed and Lucy Mei is napping. :)

Last night was Papa John's with Warren's family...and it was actually quite good! Tasted just like the good 'ol US of A! We ate outside by the kids' playground so the kiddos could let off some "steam". Warren, as always, was fired up and entertaining us all! Love that kid!!  

Another Lucy Mei first tonight: she let someone other than Greg and I hold her. Georgette and I were walking with the kids over a bridge near the playground and Lucy must have gotten scared. I was ahead of her, so she put her arms out to Georgette, who carried her back to the playground!!! YAY!!!!

No livin' on the "dangerous side" tonight. We were all tired. It was an early night - asleep by 7:30 p.m.!

Lucy Mei started to stir around 7 a.m., waking me up! LOVED catching up with a good night's rest! I guess Greg "worked" for a few hours in the middle of the night though. We're not thinking the Papa John's liked Lucy Mei very much. Her pants were a mess. Yuck. Off for a quick bath.

Breakfast buffet, last time. Lucy is going to miss the fried noodles and fried dough sticks. So sad. Cheerios and oatmeal await her at home. Sam and Ellie facetimed us while eating....but, the connection was very bad. We hurried through breakfast to skype with them from the room.

Jack and Ben were already asleep. Mom indicated all the kids have been great! Ben and Jack like to hide from her under the covers. Glad to know they are playing well together! :) Jack's teacher even emailed to say he is doing great and can't wait to meet his little sister! :)

Ellie and Sam seemed great!! Ellie is going to LOVE having a sister. She is sooooooo excited!! She kept telling Lucy how cute she is and making kisses. Mom said, "Lucy Mei is feisty!". She's got that right! Lucy loved making faces at the kids and trying to say their names. Ohhhh, I can't wait!!!

Warren's family knocked at the door (on their way to breakfast) so we waved 'em on in. They got to meet my Mom, Ellie and Sam. Warren had never skyped before and was freaked out by the whole thing! It was funny!

Another BIG first for our sweet girl today: we have been telling her "no" or using the Chinese saying (which sounds strangely like boo yah!) and she normally just smiles at us, or completely ignores us, and keeps doing it (normally playing with the toilet, the iphones, the computer, etc.). She definitely understands us....she just doesn't care. So sad.

Anyway, today I was sitting at Greg's computer (checking Facebook) and she wanted to sit on my lap. I told her, "Ok, but no touches. If you touch, you have to get down". Trust me, she understands. She started touching the keys. I then told her, "Ok, Mama said no touches. Now you have to get down.". I placed her beside me.

A few seconds later I looked over at her, and was standing there with her bottom lip stuck out and crying quietly. It was sooooo sad. The first time she has shown any "correction concern".....as I like to call it. Ha! There is hope!!!! :)

After another Lucy Mei blow-out and change of clothes, we met our entire group (minus a family that left for home yesterday) at 10:30 a.m. in the lobby for a last stroll through the park. It's a huge, Central Park type park, located across from our hotel. It's beautiful and very crowded.

Our huge group was quite a site. All 20 or so adults, plus all the kiddos. We stopped for an orchestra/band that was playing. They LOVED performing for us and many were videotaping us videotaping them! Ha! They played "Jingle Bells", "Auld Lang Syne" and a few other songs. It was so sweet!!!

We then walked by the lake so the kiddos could feed the koi. We sat on benches and a Chinese woman offered Lucy Mei some fish food. Lucy took a piece and put it in her mouth! YUCK. Thankfully, she spit it out quickly. The other families ate Subway....we weren't hungry and still recall our last bad experience with Subway on Ben's trip. Yuck, yuck.

It was VERY humid here today. No breeze at all. Warmest day by far. So weird to know it's almost Thanksgiving back home and it feels like summer here!!!

Lucy was great at the park. She even tried a piece of another Mom's Subway turkey sandwich! This girl is really branching out!! Ha! It was time to head back to the hotel to pack and Lucy to nap. After another messy diaper (hoping it's the last one today!), she was ready for "nighty night".

Our journey home will be long. Very, very long. Like, 20 hours from Hong Kong to Evansville. We will arrive in Evansville at 5:50 p.m. (or 7:50 a.m. China time). Soooo, if we look a little ragged in the "coming home" photos/video, you'll know why!! We are hoping to sleep on the flight from Hong Kong to Chicago. We know Lucy will need to to nap. Even a few hours for us will make a huge difference.

This girl is something else. Truly. Her sweet, sweet spirit, her spunk, her sass, her stunning beauty. Her playfulness, her love and trust in us. She is inspiration and strength, defined.

She loves to give kisses and hugs and run to us. She is restless and cranky when tired - and quite a spitfire when she is both of those, and doesn't get her way. The tantrums are over quickly, and almost funny to watch. God love her! We have enjoyed every minute with her and can't believe we get to spend the rest of our lives with her!  

A lot of people have asked how Lucy and Ben are alike and/or different. That could be an entirely new post, but honestly, it's irrelevant. They are each very unique individuals. Vaguely similar beginnings to life and a shared birth country. But, suffice to say, one thing is for certain - they are both Schultzs through and through - just as God intended.  

Our next post will hopefully be the "homecoming". :) I will try and keep everyone updated on Lucy's transition and meeting her family. Greg, of course, will keep posting photos! So, check back and stay-tuned. Thanks again to everyone for following - your prayers and well wishes are, and have been, greatly appreciated.

Lastly, a HUGE thank you to my parents for watching our kiddos...and the crazy dog. We couldn't have done it without you. LOVE YOU THE WHOLE WORLD!!!! XOXOXO

Blessings,