Devin and Kim: Ecuador Day 33

My mood today feels a bit like the weather outside-- We are on day 3 of downpouring rain. I am struggling to fill the time and to feel at least somewhat productive, especially with the rain. Again, this process is out of sync with what real life is and should be. I like vacations as much as the next guy, but when your vacation is on week 5 and half your family is gone, it's different. I thrive on productivity and there is little of that at this point in time here. (I did do an intake interview with a new adoptive couple last night via Skype and that felt fabulous to feel like I am getting back into things- and yay technology!).

Anyway, the day started out with Mishell's doctor's appointment, which kind of set the tone for the downer day. Things are fine, it's just that the process can't possibly be as smooth as I think it is going to be and MJB threw some more possible kinks out there. I'll get to that in a minute. We met MJB at the doctor's office this morning. We were 15 minutes early, she was 15 minutes late, so we stood there for a half hour waiting for her before heading up to see Dr. Sosa. This is the same doctor as last time and for some unbeknownst reason to me, he is the designated doctor who must sign off on US visa/passport applications. He's an OBGYN. Makes total sense. Even weirder, there were men there waiting to see him today too, and I am pretty sure they were not getting US visas or passports. Anyway, there's no rhyme or reason to that, but there it is. In true Ecuadorian fashion, we were seen at 11 despite our appointment being at 9:30. Dr. Sosa is a nice guy and he speaks English, so that was nice. Our visit was very, erm, interesting. He asked Mishell how her eyes were and wrote down her answer, then asked her how her teeth were and wrote down her answer. He then took her behind a curtain for an approximately 30 second exam. I don't know what he examined, because I stayed behind. And that was that. She is lacking about 8 vaccinations, but he said he wanted to just sign off on them here so that we can do them in the states. Fine with me.

During the time we were waiting, MJB mentioned that she thinks it will be a problem to get Mishell's birth certificate in one day. She said that Mishell was born in a neighborhood outside of the jurisdiction of the main civil service office, so the main office must communicate with the smaller office in the neighborhood of her birth and that may take two days. We can't go to the smaller one because all requests have to be processed through the larger one. So that puts a kink in the plans for the whole week if that's the case. WHY she didn't mention this before when we were mapping out the week, I have no idea. She's known where Mishell was born this whole time. So, unless we miraculously get a super fantastic nice worker on Monday who is willing to process it in one day (She said it is possible that the can do it in one day- they can communicate via internet and get it all done, but they just don't like to, naturally), then we are in trouble. I know two days doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but it is to me. I want to get home ASAP! My mom and sister are here all week next week too and it will really be rough if I am spending all my time chasing down birth certificates and such while they are here. So, prayers for a nice person on Monday morning who wants to be kind and helpful would be greatly appreciated.

After the doctor's appointment, we went to Carolina Park for a while. We had lunch in a little restaurant near the park that we found. It was fancy looking and had some different menu items than we are accustomed to, so we thought we would try it out. I had chicken pot pie that was fairly good, nothing spectacular, but it was a change of scenery so that's good. Jace had tomato soup that was fairly good a well and Mishell had a hot dog (yuckkkk).

We took a taxi home after that, luckily beating the storm today. Today's rain was crazy....tons and tons. Straight down pour. The kids watched a movie in the afternoon and I answered emails, watched the first episode of 90 Day Fiance online (never watched this show before in my life, but my cousin is on it, so you know, must watch. Very interesting show...) and made cookies. The cookies are actually quite delish, unlike the last batch I tried (last time was chocolate chip and their chocolate chips are waxy and quite nasty, so today I made oatmeal raisin and they are quite good).

That's about it for today. I am counting down the days until my mom and sister get here. They are bringing CANDY and DIET COKE and THEMSELVES and it's gonna be amazing. 3 days and counting!