A trip to the Clinica...

We had our first to the clinica today for two reasons. One being that River has a case of parasites. (Yes, it's pretty gross in the #2 department.) They aren't really bothering him. He didn't eat very much for a couple of days, but had no fever or pain. The second reason was also baby inspired. The boys were playing in our indoor open air courtyard and River tripped over an exposed water spicket and now has a lovely one inch cut on the inside of his lip. It stopped bleeding pretty quick, but these two things were enough for Mommy to say "Chris! Clinica! Now!" Luckily, we had just gotten our car back from the mechanic not ten minutes prior. On the way there, we saw our nanny walking in from the bus stop and picked her up for some good translating. You'll probably think Chris is crazy, but he also had me get out and practice my stick shift driving! (I only stalled once.) Anyway, we get there and there's is no line whatsoever. No wait in this waiting room to wait in the next to then wait in the doctor's exam room to then see the nurse to wait for the doctor! It was very clean besides the horses above in the parking lot. They had two volunteers from the states helping out, one full time doctor and a couple of local nurses and pharmacy people. (One less stop~ the drugs are right there!) They said they couldn't give River stitches because of the location, but I'm sure if it was anywhere else, it would have been at least 10 stitches. (Okay, maybe five!) We have to bring him back tomorrow to do lab work to see if needs any other type of antibiotics for the specific parasite that might be living in his belly. The entire bill was $27 with two bottles of antibiotics, too! As we were leaving we noticed that every seat was taken by locals waiting to be seen. Apparently, they were all on the bus that had arrived a few blocks away just as we headed there. The clinic is named Roberto Clemente after a Pittsburgh Pirate baseball player who died in 1972 helping rescue earthquake victims in Nicaragua. It's a non-profit based out of the US to give health care to anyone who needs it. In Nicaragua, if you have to stay in the hospital, someone has to bring you food to eat because they do not provide it. The prisons are the same, go figure! River finally ate his whole dinner tonight and is running around like normal. Thank God for modernized health care and diaper changing nannies!