A Visit to the County Health Department

I've just returned from a one hour visit to the County Health Department.

My arms are both very sore from the HepA, HepB, Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Typhoid, Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccinations that were on the list of "recommended for travel to Southeast Asia". Fortunately, some of these items were grouped together, so, Husband and I only had four shots each instead of 8 or 9. Then we coughed up $470.00.

So, we are achy and broke...

Fortunately, while we were there, they were offering "free anonymous HIV testing" and there was no one in line waiting. I convinced them to do "free, not-anonymous HIV testing" on Husband and myself, since our doctor still needs an HIV test in his file in order to write our letter for our dossier, stating that we are free from HIV. So, now that is done and I am sending our negative test results to our doctor this afternoon. The guy doing the testing was surprised that we were so adamant that he write our names on the form - but, when we explained about the whole situation, he was very nice and helpful, and I told him that he was helping our adoption along and it was much appreciated. He said we were lucky to be there on a Wednesday because the "STD Clinic" was closed - he said on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday there is usually a 2 hour wait. Thank goodness for Wednesday! The other good thing was that it was a saliva test, so, we didn't have to get poked again after being poked so many times for the shots.

I'm just glad to feel like we accomplished something for our adoption today - something that will help us, eventually, bring Lana home.

Gretchen