It's a Game

I've always enjoyed games.  Actually, I thrive on them.  I love competition.  Hubby and I compete at just about everything.  We even keep records.  Sometimes we'll go on a Yahtzee kick.  We started out like most normal people, playing a game at a time.  But it eventually progressed to where we now play the entire Yahtzee score sheet, which is considered one game to us.  Meaning we don't just play a single game at a time.  We play to fill the entire score card, even if that means we use all our chances all at once, or roll 5 large straights in a row.

We keep track of how many games we've won.  I WAS ahead for the whole time we've been playing, until recently Hubby took the lead and is now ahead 282 to 281 (that's how ridiculous we are!).  We also keep a record of the highest game score, which I currently am the proud owner of, and I am happy to say Hubby holds the record for the all time lowest score.  By the way, this is a lifetime record sheet that we keep.  I'm sure that makes us nerds in some way.

I should also tell you that it is a MAJOR accomplishment for me to beat Hubby in ANY game.  He is annoyingly good at games.  He will complain about how he isn't good, but will keep playing it until he passes everybody and basically is unbeatable.  He did this recently with a video game.  He whined about how bad he was and wanted me to teach him my secrets (I refused), but it took him less than 24 hours to beat everyone.  Now he holds a ridiculous score of 300,000 something and the next closest person is 128,000 (which is MY score).  Sigh.....

All games have a strategy of some sort or another.  In football, you either play a running game or a passing game.  In softball, you either bunt the ball or hit away.  In basketball, you play man-to-man or a zone defense.  In Yahtzee, do you put the score as your full house or 3 of a kind?  Or if it's only your 2nd roll, do you gamble and roll for the Yahtzee?

I feel like going through an IVF cycle is like playing a game.  First, the doctor's choose what protocol (strategy) they think you should be on.  Then, what is your dosage going to be, which by the way, can change at any point during the cycle.  Then, it is a game figuring out which day should be the trigger day.  After that, it's whether you do a 3 day or a 5 day transfer.  And looking ahead, do I pee on a stick, or not before going for the beta test?

Today, I was able to go with Sis for her follicle stim check.  The doctor listed off all the follicle sizes as she saw them.  I tried to keep track and counted 11 myself.  There seemed to be varying sizes with some ready to go and others not quite there.  Wanting to know FOR SURE how many she saw, and not being the quite one, I asked.  Dr. A said there were about 10-12 but they were different sizes so the trick was figuring out how we get the most mature eggs out of the bunch.  The question was, should Sis trigger tonight or go one more day?  Well, just yesterday, the same doctor said it would be one more day.  Now today it might be one more day.  Ultimately, I don't really care just so long as they are getting the most mature (but not over-ripe) eggs out of it, or I should say out of SIS, as possible.

What I find to be comforting in all of this is that the doctors at this clinic don't just randomly make these decisions.  They actually get together with each other in the afternoon and review the information to make the best decision possible.  It's not just one doctor making the decision.  They pool their knowledge together so there is more than one opinion.  I find that refreshing and comforting that they are doing the best they can to make this successful for us.

The decision is to wait ONE more day.  Sis goes back in the morning for another check.  At this point, we are pretty sure the egg retrieval will be Friday.  That means transfer will either be Monday or Wednesday of next week.

This is one game I wish I didn't have to play because the outcome could very well mean that we are childless going into old age.  I don't want to be a TRUE old lady with no baby.