Doctor Visits

The kids got out of bed refreshed this morning, having showered and eaten breakfast.  Raúl collected us and took us to our first doctor's appointment for the day.  We arrived for our 11:00 appointment to have Xavier and Angela's chests x-rayed, testing for Tuberculosis.  Lizet is too young.  We then met with the doctor's assistant who took the children's vital signs and filled out preparatory paperwork for the doctor at our 6:00 appointment in the evening.  We then went to pick up paperwork from the translator for the U. S. Embassy.  Next, Raúl dropped us off at La Quinta to buy the kids some clothes.  Dave and Xavier went in one direction while the girls and I went in another.  This store is set up with tables each manned by a different person.  If you want to purchase something, they write you a ticket, giving you two copies.  Next, you pay in the center of the store and then return to each booth to collect your bagged items, handing them one of the stamped receipt copies.  Next, we walked to Ripley, a three-story department store.  Again, going in both directions, Xavier was the only one who found something:  a t-shirt.  We were ready for lunch so we stopped at a café called Palachinke for sandwiches.  They specialize in "panqueques" and is decorated with Scandinavian motif. Our next stop... the condo. Dave decided to go out again to get Angela a tres leches cake for her birthday.  We also got her some gifts.  We will celebrate her 12th tomorrow!  Raúl picked us up at 5:30 and we arrived for our 6:00 appointment.  We were told it would be at least an hour (which is why I thought you made appointments, but okay).  We walked to a café specializing in pasteries and other baked goods called Balthazar.  The children had warm milk and cookies. Dave and I shared a lomo saltado empanada; Lizet wanted bites from my fork, so I shared.  Dave ordered lucuma helado.  Lucuma is a fruit native to Peru, Ecuador, and Chile.  We also shared a slice of crème brûleé cheesecake.  We chatted for about an hour and headed back to the clinic.  We finally met with Dr. Situ and he examined their ears, noses, throats, respirations, and pressed on their abdomens.  After the good news of the kids having clear chest x-rays, Dave paid and we headed upstairs for their inoculations. None of them cried and they all received at least three vaccines, Xavier and Angela receiving four.  I'm glad they each were given the meningitis vaccine.  The others were standard U. S. vaccines, as well.  Dave gave them each chocolate for doing such a good job.  He's such a good papá.  Raúl attempted to take us home, but his car wouldn't start, so he hailed two taxis and we headed in one direction while Raúl headed in another.  Dave made hamburgers for dinner and now the kids are watching Garfield.  We asked Angela what she would like to do for her birthday tomorrow and she basically said:  Stay home!  I can't blame the girl.  I’m a homebody, too!