{"id":221466,"date":"2020-04-09T08:30:40","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T13:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=221466"},"modified":"2020-04-08T11:59:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-08T16:59:00","slug":"open-adoption-biggest-miracle-loving-arms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/open-adoption-biggest-miracle-loving-arms\/","title":{"rendered":"Mother shares beautiful story of open adoption: ‘We put our biggest miracle into loving arms’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kacie Schulz<\/a> already had an open adoption with her first son when she was preparing for the birth and adoption of her second son, Arlo. Writing about her experience for Love What Matters<\/a>, Schulz shared, \u201cI had told myself that every adoption looks different, and so does the level of openness.\u201d She had no expectations of being part of Arlo’s birth and first hours, waiting to take her cues from his birth mother, Angie. But in an amazing act of courage and love, Angie welcomed her with open arms.<\/p>\n

At the hospital after Arlo\u2019s birth, Schulz was disappointed to learn there was no room available for her to stay at the hospital. She was taken aback when Angie said, \u201cYou can stay with us. You can stay in our room. I don\u2019t want you to have to go home.\u201d While not wanting to intrude, Schulz was thrilled at the possibility of staying and spending time with Arlo and Angie.<\/p>\n

READ:\u00a0Birth mom praises open adoption: \u2018All my fears were replaced with joy\u2019<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The days that followed with Schulz and Angie sharing a hospital room with baby Arlo ended up being a life-changing experience for Schulz. She writes, \u201cThe time we had together wasn\u2019t something I expected, but I wouldn\u2019t spend those hours any other way. It wasn\u2019t weird. It wasn\u2019t awkward. It was just two moms spending time loving the same son.\u201d Schulz and Angie talked about Arlo\u2019s ancestors and bonded over the emotional experience of his birth.<\/p>\n

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This is open adoption. \u2022 Two moms, same post-partum room. One who gave birth, one in awe of her. One mom who he knew instinctively, one who he would grow to love in time. One mom who needed rest after labor, one who watched him sleep. \u2022 Arlo\u2019s mom and I spent the first 24 hours after he was born together in her room, because the hospital was at full capacity, and she didn\u2019t want me to have to go home. \u2022 We talked about her labor, his birth, and who he looked like. I dressed him in the clothes she brought for him for hospital photos. She held him, and he melted. We did foot masks together. She shared her grapes with our two year old when he came to visit. I dimmed the lights and lowered her bed when she slipped into sleep. She teased me for crying from her first contraction (I almost did but was able to hold off until we both heard his first cry). ? \u2022 I didn\u2019t know we would get to have this time together, but I wouldn\u2019t have it any other way. It wasn\u2019t weird. It wasn\u2019t awkward. We were just two moms spending time loving the same son. \u2022 Photo posted with permission<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Kacie Schulz<\/a> (@schulzscripted) on