Medical Exams & Such

Day two and we were off to get our medical exams done.  As part of the new adoption treaty with the U.S., Gabe's country is requiring all adoptive parents to complete and 8-point medical exam here to ensure we're healthy both physically and mentally to adopt.  We went to the medical clinic at 10:00 this morning and didn't finish until 3:00 this afternoon.  Whew!

The medical exams take place in this combined hospital/clinic.  We started out here, in the lobby, while our facilitator registered us.  From there, we hopped from floor to floor, office to office to see: lab tech (for bloodwork), x-ray (for chest x-ray), cardiologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, pulmonologist, dermatologist, general surgeon, and two others I can't remember because I am only half awake right now.

The clinic was a busy place, with many parts under construction, and patients waiting outside the doctor's offices.  It is set up differently than here  in the states.  There are no receptionists or nurses, per say.  You wait right outside the doctor's exam rooms, which are also their offices, and when their green light above the door turns on, you enter.

Here I am half awake waiting to see the psychiatrist.  He didn't think I was crazy, which is always good. :)  

Brian waiting to see the psychiatrist.  He wondered why Brian never takes vacations. He didn't think it was normal! Tell me about it!

This is what most of the hallways looked like.  Pretty similar to hospital offices in the U.S.

 The good news is we seemed to pass the exams with flying colors!  Finally, we were free to go.  

Dear Olga met us in the lobby and we had plans to visit the Kremlin, specifically the armory.  It was amazing.  If you ever make it to this part of the world, you MUST visit the Kremlin.  There are so many artifacts it is mind-boggling.  I particularly loved the dresses from the likes of Catherine the Great.  The waists on some of these dresses were impossibly small.  Some of the coronation dresses had beautiful long trains.    

The outside of the armory inside the Kremlin walls.

There was also a room full of carriages (think Cinderella on steroids).  Oh my, would Kennedy and Leah LOVE it here.  Olga and I picked out perfect carriages for Gabe, Jake & the girls.  The details on everything were incredible.  It was such a surreal feeling to be standing in the same room as the Faberge Eggs-how many James Bond type movies have been made about stealing the Faberge eggs?!  

Pictures are not allowed in the armory, unfortunately.  I bought a bunch of post cards though so I could share them with my kids.  I will leave you with some photos because, frankly, I am about to pass out from tiredness right here in the lobby of our hotel, so I am going to go sleep!  Good night!  In the morning we get to see Gabe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!