Let's Get Physical, Physical

After going around and around with the people at the VA Center, we finally gave up and scheduled appointments for our physicals at a local doctor's office. I'm sure that we will totally regret this when we see the bill, but we're done! And that is definitely worth something.

So we were poked and prodded but both walked out with a clean bill of health. We went to Quest to get our bloodwork done yesterday and are still waiting on the results of that and some other lab work. I need to get an eye exam and David needs to have an eye doctor fill out his paperwork, but the end of the medical saga is in sight! 

Going Postal

Thanks to Dr. Jordan, our dental exams are done (for free!) and all the forms and x-rays are officially in the mail.

Of course, there was a lot of drama because this is the Peace Corps, and I think getting this application in is only a part of the trials we'll face in the next few years. We stopped at the Post Office on the way to church this morning and dropped the packet in the drive-thru mailbox...and then I remembered that our recruiter said we should have delivery confirmation on it so we can be sure it is received at the PC office. I made David turn around and we stood in line for a solid 15 minutes to ask if someone could get it out of the box. Clearly there was some sort of misunderstanding but after lots of waiting in the heat and a whole lot of attitude from some mail guy in a Marlins jersey, we got the packet out of the box and stood in line again to mail it with delivery confirmation.

And then the lady tells us that because it is in an envelope supplied by the Peace Corps, we can't even get confirmation for it.

Seriously?! 

VA Medical Centers - Help!

Okay all you "Peace Corp Journal" stalkers - I need your help. Has anyone had their medical exams done at a VA Center? I went through a really long phone tree with the WPB VA Center and was told to call back on Monday, and the Athens center said they do not do them at all. Our Pre-Service Nurse said that some VA Centers aren't even aware that they can do PC exams.

Has anyone else run across this problem? Do you know any tricks or have any tips? 

Neither snow nor rain...

With the help of our amazing mail woman (props to you, Mary! I think that's your name...), our medical packets arrived here in Georgia today. David's was sent to the condo and we were expecting Mary to just mail his, but she even went digging through our PO box to find mine too. What a woman.

Anyways there's not a lot we can do with them while we are here on "vacation" and I've basically read everything about it that I possibly can online but hopefully we can go ahead and get some appointments made so we can knock them out as soon as we are back in Florida. David and I both have pretty basic health insurance right now and haven't exactly had regular check-ups, so it will be interesting to see what they find..

Our fabulous recruiter also gave us the go-ahead to apply for and attend Discipleship Training School in Switzerland in September as long as we have all of our health clearances, so I'm ready to knock this out! Movin' on up..

Empty

Well, we checked both of our mailboxes before we left West Palm Beach, but no medical packets. I guess the good news is that we will have something to look forward to when we get home!

Time Only Flies When You're Having Fun...

If you are reading this right now, I need you to stop whatever you're doing and help us with a big favor.

Close your eyes, bow your little head and pray that our Medical Kit packets come tomorrow before we leave for Athens for 2 weeks. I don't think they would do us a lot of good there, but it would be nice to have them to show my parents and potentially get started on (at least with making appointments, etc.). Toolbox says they were mailed on May 26th, so it's entirely possible that they could make it from DC to West Palm Beach in 3 mail days, right?

Hurry up, Mr. Mailman!