Success rates and dogs

I have been keeping tabs on the SART website for recent success rates of ART. They usually post the previous recordable year around this time of year (2008; due to awaiting "results" of pregnancies from treatment). So I was hoping to see a steady number and pattern develop with UCRM. Instead the rate of success dropped. They went from 76% in 2007 to 56% in 2008 (for donor egg IVF). So on one hand it is a 20% drop and on the other it is still 10% higher chance than regular IVF. But it kind of spooked me on the idea for a few days. I felt like we had an almost equal chance of bringing home a dog then we did a baby. In honor of that here are the top 3 dogs we consider getting if it doesn't work (keeping myself balanced here):

1. Doberman Pincer (dominant but loyal dog...but usually better to train from a puppy age to be a family dog)

2. Weimaraner (loyal, affectionate, eager to please and beautiful eyes...Jeff thinks they look too human)

3. Beagle (medium size, cute, even tempered...Jeff says they are on the bottom of the list for smart dogs and I say at least that way Thor can outsmart it)

**although on a positive note I did some narrowing down based on diagnosis. POI/Diminished Ovarian Reserve seems to have a slightly higher success rate (64% for 2008) and overall highs of 87% in 2007 and averaging around 66% when you take out the really high in 2007 and really low in 2004 (2nd year recorded...none the 1st year). So we're still hoping with Jeff's stellar sperm and my "perfect" parts sans my ovaries that we might get lucky very soon. Two months and counting...Eeegads that is soon! Please God let it be.

Grandkids...granddogs??

I hope I don't ever offend anyone with this post. I am really blessed with great in-laws and I count myself lucky that I enjoy them since my own parents aren't close by (to enjoy as much as I would like) right now. When we first got Thor and brought him to Draper sunday dinners at Jeff's parents' house it was more like he was fun and a dog...something for the kids to play with and enjoy. We still mainly bring him so that the kids can play with him (and so he doesn't leave his "leavings" at home in the house). But lately Thor has been treated and (sometimes almost referred to) as a granddog. It's cute and I'll never complain that both my parents and Jeff's recognize Thor as part of our family because he is. And where I notice it the most (at Jeff's parents) I realize it's probably in an effort to make us feel comfortable with the kid situation and possibly even some longing for a grand child being projected on our dog. Sometimes I just enjoy it and find it humorous and other times it kind of makes me sad. I don't really know how to explain it. Makes me feel kind of like he's our "kid" because we can't have kids or something or like I'm disappointing myself and others with this. Most of the time I admit that it does make me feel more included and "taken care of" though so that is always nice.

Maybe Thor will find some down time again soon though. Becky, Jeff's sister, announced over the weekend that she was pregnant. They have three kids right now and Becky swore up and down that they didn't want anymore. But low and behold they got pregnant by "surprise" still. There is something about "surprise" pregnancies that just gets under your skin when you can't even get an "on purpose" pregnancy. How can it be so easy and even unplanned for some and others try for years without any success. I guess I shouldn't complain as Jeff and I were both "surprise" babies too...we wouldn't be alive or together if it wasn't for things like that but it still just stings a little. We are really happy and excited for Becky and Brian though and hope that it all goes well. Hope too that someday we'll be in those shoes.