itinerary

We first saw her face 254 days ago on Valentine's Day, 2012. What a looonng 254 days it has been. 

8 months and 11 days to be exact. 

Nearly a full-term pregnancy. I am fully dilated with no epidural! :) 

Ready to meet our beautiful baby girl!

ITINERARY

10/26 Depart Evansville for Chicago (10:10-11:30 a.m.). Depart Chicago for Beijing (9:05 p.m.).

10/27 Arrive Beijing (11:30 p.m.). 13.25 hrs. flying time! - Qianmen Jianguo Hotel.

10/28 Depart Beijing for Zhengzhou (10:20-11:50 a.m.) - Crowne Plaza Hotel.

10/29 LUCY MEI DAY!!! (10:00-11:00 a.m.) - Provincial Government Office. (US time: 9:00-10:00 p.m. Sunday, 10/28.)

10/30 Finalize adoption in the morning. Travel by van, 5 hrs. round-trip, to Lucy Mei's home city of Zhoukou. We will apply for her passport at the public security bureau and potentially visit her orphanage.

10/31 - 11/2 Free days. Receive Lucy Mei's passport 11/2.

11/3 Depart Zhengzhou for Guangzhou (12:50-3:05 p.m.) - China Hotel (Marriott).

11/4 Free day.

11/5 Lucy Mei's physical. 

11/6 - 11/7 Free days.

11/8 U.S. Consulate Appointment (interview and oath) applying for Lucy Mei's Visa.

11/9 Receive Lucy Mei's Visa. Depart Guangzhou for Hong Kong via van. Regal Airport Hotel.

11/10 Depart Hong Kong for Chicago (11:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.). 14.20 hrs. flying time! Depart Chicago (4:50 p.m.). ARRIVE EVANSVILLE (HOME) 5:50 p.m.!!!

orphanage photos, visit?

I recently found 2 photos online of Lucy Mei's orphanage in Zhoukou City, Henan Province. 

I believe this is where she sleeps (or slept as a baby).

Below is a photo I published earlier of Lucy Mei in her crib.

We hope to visit her orphanage, but there are no guarantees and we won't know until we are in China.

We are meeting our sweet Lucy Mei at the Civil Affairs Office in the provincial capital of Zhengzhou - approximately 2.5 hours from the orphanage in Zhoukou City on Monday, October 29th.

Lucy will stay with us for the remainder of the trip - and FOREVER - from that point on. :)

She will be escorted (along with her little friend, Warren, who is also meeting his forever family :) to the office by an orphanage director. Warren's family is with our agency and in our travel group. What a blessing!!!

The following day, Tuesday, October 30th, we will travel (along with Warren's family) to Zhoukou City to apply for the children's Chinese passports. The last family we know that traveled to Zhoukou was not permitted to visit the orphanage. We aren't sure why. However, we know a family that did visit the orphanage last May....so, we're holding out hope!

updated photos and travel dates!

We recently received two new photos and updated measurements of our precious Lucy Mei. 

What a beauty and a blessing. She takes my breath away.

A few observations: :)

• Clearly, our sweet girl needs new shoes. Her little toes are hanging over the edge. Luckily, Mama has sparkly new shoes!!! Sooo cute! 

• Those bangs are screaming for a hair accessory! Once again, Mama is prepared!! (It is typical for orphanages to cut their hair very short. We are thrilled they have kept her bangs, at least for now.)

• It's unclear what she's holding in the photos. A churro style cookie - photo bribe...?? She looks a little unsure herself!

The photos make me happy.....and sad. She appears tired....and lonely. :(

Her measurements (9/24/12) at 28 months of age were 29 lbs. and 35.5" tall. Based on growth charts, she's in the 61st percentile for weight and 56th percentile for height!!!

......I am in awe of her beauty.

There is a depth to her eyes, her expressions, her body language that brings me such peace. It is difficult to explain. She could not possibly be more my child. The term "destiny" is often used (and debated) in the adoption community. I, for one, am a firm believer. 

Oh, sweet Lucy Mei. I love you the whole world. 

I ache to hold you in my arms, to smother you with love and kisses, to (hopefully) make you smile and laugh, to teach you the meaning of family and security and unconditional, forever love.  

We know you will grieve the only life you've ever known. We know you won't understand what is happening. We know you will likely be fearful and scared. Sadly, your life has been purely institutional. You know no other.

It breaks my heart.... 

You've likely laid awake in a crib or bed with no one to soothe your tears or fears, no one to sing you lullabies or read you bedtime stories. You've likely never experienced a full belly, playing in a warm bubble bath or being tickled with boo boo kisses. You've likely never been rocked to sleep while wrapped in loving arms, feeling the warmth and comforting heartbeat of someone who loves you. 

We know love changes lives....yours and ours. We simply cannot wait! 

You were a Schultz the millisecond I laid eyes on you, February 14th, 2012. My heart sank, I knew.

We are so close now!!! 

We received our final Travel Approval yesterday and our flights confirmed today!!!

We begin our travels on Friday, October 26th at 10:10 a.m..

We will meet Lucy Mei on Monday, October 29th in the late morning (the evening of Sunday, October 28th US time).

We will arrive home on Saturday, November 10th at 5:50 p.m.

Sweet Lucy Mei, you are so loved and perfectly destined to be in our loving, crazy, chaotic little family.

As my dear brother-in-law so eloquently stated upon seeing Lucy's updated photos, "She will fit right into the chaos...she has no idea what she is in store for!!!".

Baby girl, hang in there. We are coming very, very soon!!!

keepin' it real

Adoption.

It's not "natural". 

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary:

Natural -- "being a relation by actual consanguinity (blood relation) as distinguished from adoption. Natural parents."

As my daughter dutifully pointed out the other day, "Mommy, you're not my real Mommy". A friend from school told her so. 

I don't feel she loves me any less or differently than a biological child. It's merely a label. But, it caught me by surprise. It also got me thinking....

"Adopted" is a label.

"Birth parent", "First parent", "Natural parent", "Real parent", "Adoptive parent" -- all labels.

Adoption is full of labels.

People (adults and children) like to label. I get that.

But, it's not how I feel. 

I feel like my children's Mommy....period.

I wouldn't love my kiddos any more (or differently) if they'd grown in my womb. The media, in particular, likes to identify children as "adopted". Is it pertinent to Tom Cruise's divorce headlines that he also has 2 adopted children?

There is nothing I am more passionate about than my children and adoption.

But, adoption does not define them. Labels do not define us. Labels categorize and differentiate. My family is no different than any other's. We love unconditionally, support and encourage one another, laugh together, argue (often), cry (lots) and always forgive. The need for others to label and differentiate....is hurtful.

I feel the urge to tell my daughter's friend that I am her Mommy.

But, more importantly, I feel the need to tell her friend that there is a wonderful, beautiful, caring young lady who also loves my daughter very, very much...and my daughter did grow in her womb. This amazing young lady also gave my daughter her tall, slender frame, long dainty fingers, tiny freckles, beautiful smile, pinchable cheeks, vivacious spirit and a whole lotta smarts.

I would like to tell her friend, we are both real.

party girl

New photos of our party girl!

A little background...

Through a Yahoo group for Lucy Mei's orphanage, we met a fellow adoptive family with an adorable little guy currently in Lucy Mei's orphanage! His family will name him Warren.

The family lives just 5 hours away, is using the same adoption agency and are they are very likely to travel with us!!!! We both received our Letters of Acceptance (LOA) within a week of each other!

As you may recall, Lucy Mei turned 2 in May and we sent her a cake. Much to our surprise, we received 38 photos of our precious girl's birthday "party".

Well, guess who was invited to attend? Yep, Warren! I immediately emailed his Mama the photos and she was ecstatic!! What a blessing!

Then, as Warren's birthday was approaching, his Mama emailed and indicated she was also sending a cake. We hoped Lucy Mei would be "invited" to celebrate with Warren....and maybe, just maybe, photos would be sent.

Well, look what I got in my email?!!! 17 photos of Lucy Mei at Warren's party!!!

These kiddos arrive to us with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. No "history"...no stories or memories of the first 2 years of their lives. How amazing to have these photos and a treasured friendship that we pray will last a lifetime.

Lucy Mei and Warren 

Notice the Croc like shoes? :)

The little guy in yellow is soon to be named "Nathan" and his family
is leaving next week to bring him home!!!

Love her little face!!!

Could the forks be any smaller!?

Pants a little high-waisted! So cute!!!

Seeing her beautiful face brings me such peace and comfort. So thankful to our new friends for sharing these beloved photos with us!