I really don't know what I am thinking at the moment with moving forward with our plans for a family. On one hand I can't imagine being a one-child family having come from a family of 8 kids myself. On the other hand - maybe it would be nice just us and James?
We have so many options to consider. It's easiest if I bullet point them:
- Just have one child. This as I said is hard for me to imagine. I love coming from a large family and always envisioned myself surrounded by my children. It would be nice in some aspects and would allow for a lifestyle of travel and luxury in a way that having more kids would possibly hinder (unless you have money and nannies like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt...)
- Continue with Clomid. This is I guess an easy option in some respects. We know it worked (even though we miscarried). My main concern with this option is that I got really sick on this and it makes trying to make a baby difficult when you are vomiting! I asked my specialist if there was anything I could take at the same time to ease the nausea and vomiting - he avoided my question. Will have to try asking again maybe?
- Injections. This is the recommended course of action by the specialist. Daily injections from day 4-15 of my cycle and then a booster shot two days before ovulation. This option will be more expensive for us. I hate needles and the thought of giving them to myself daily gives me the willies!
- Foster care - Home for Life. This is a program run in our state that involves placing a child in 1 home until they're 18 years old. The government has 3 years once a child comes into care to decide on the long term plan for the child. If there is no chance of the child going back to his/her parents permanently, then they are placed in a "Home for Life". This option is similar to adoption in that you become their family permanently. However, the government retains the guardianship orders. There is a possibility with some children to adopt them once they have been with you for 3 years. We have already had an interview considering this about 4 months ago. We were told that with our background in foster caring (in New Zealand) and the desperation they have for families here, we could have a child in our home within 3-4 months. Then they asked us if we would be willing to have a newborn! Of course we would!
- Adoption. This is sadly a hard long road to take here in Australia with time frames of 5-7 years once you start the process. It can be very expensive. In Western Australia there are usually only 30 adoptions a year - 25 of those are international. Until Australia starts to realise that there are children out there desperate for families and families here desperate for children to love and comfort, this is not a very viable option for us.
Flowchart of all Australian Adoptions 2011-2012
So now you see the choices. How on earth do we make a decision?
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