An Apple A Day...

...does not keep the doctor away...when you have an appointment at the US Embassy for a visa!

This morning saw us whisked away to the sole clinic in Tirana approved by the Embassy to draw blood for the required medical tests. Upon arrival we learned that the United States is preparing to have one of their rare lottery drawings in which Albanians may enter their names for a chance at a Greencard. To be eligible for the drawing, one must show proof from this specific clinic that they are HIV & syphilis free. What that meant to us was that we entered the clinic to a standing room only crowd in the large waiting room. Fortunately, the receptionist was kindly and escorted us straight into the first available examination room! It wasn't easy to be with Ellie for what happened next, but thankfully the nurse was quite quick!

Ellie holds up her bruised hand from which the blood was drawn (see the blue spot above the wrist)

The doctor was likewise just as busy (again, the list of embassy-approved physicians is quite short), but agreed to see us tonight at 6:45! We were able to walk right in and the doctor confirmed what we already knew: that Ellie is a girl, and has all 10 fingers and all 10 toes! That is all she checked in her 30-second examination. What we didn't know was that she is lacking her mumps and rubella vaccine and will have to get that in the morning at 9:30. Yay! Another appointment with a needle!

One of the nice aspects to this evening's doctor's appointment was the chance to see Tirana after dark decorated with lights! We've spent most of our evenings close to home so this made the trip a little more enjoyable with the usual sites all dressed up for the holidays.

Our appointment at the embassy will take place at 1PM (7AM E.S.T.). Pray that all goes smoothly for us! So far, everything looks to be on track!