Almost did not make it......

Today is Wednesday.... We arrived in Kiev at 6:05am and Era, our original translator was a welcome sight at the train station! She is a wonderful person! She just took charge - grabbed a suitcase and "A" and hauled off up the stairs! We began another day of hurry up and wait! We got into a taxi and was brisked off to a new flat.
We got the thrill of taking a shower, having some hot cereal, and they loading up in another taxi to head off for the medical exam (the mental exam should be done right before this point! Haha!) We get to some scary looking place with a ton of people waiting in the lobby, and everytime a door opens, 6 or 7 people try to beat each other threw the door! Since we were American and were with "O" - we had first priority (also helped that Era knows the Dr. personally!) This medical office is one of two that ALL immigrants have to go to get a medical exam to try for a Visa to travel oversees)
Anyhoo... I take little O back to the office, and the doctor speaks English, but chooses to talk mostly to Era... little O decides that she needs to fill the diaper at that point... lucky for me that I had all the necessary gear, and she was already on paper! Lucky for John that he was not the one that went back! haha!
The exam was super fast! I would not say that it was a very good exam - just fast!
After the exam - we rushed off to our 11am interview at the Embassy for the Visa! Made it a few minutes early and just filled out paperwork, while O and A played in the play area!
We were told to come back around 4pm to pick up the Visa.....
Needless to say - we did alot of running around for other unknown stuff!
The really ironic part about the day was lunch! Our taxi driver, Slava, took us to a cafeteria... it was funny because it was the first time eating out with "O" AND this was the same cafeteria we took A and Little J to for the first meal out 5 years ago! It was very bizarre!
We headed back to the Embassy, after looking for a stroller for O, which we had no luck finding one. We got to the Embassy a little late - about 4:15pm. It was dark outside and there was no one outside lined up or waiting.... My heart skipped a beat or two in panic! I ran up to the door to open - and it was locked.. I pulled on it a few times in panic and then a security guard appeared out of no where and told me that the Embassy was closed. Holy crap! I told him that I had to pick up that Visa today... The guard looked for the inside guards so that they could let me in - he had to pound on the wall and glass to wake the guy up... (great for security, nice to know how safe our Embassy is!) The inside guy let me in - made me do the scan for any sort of metal, phones, etc... then told me to go in.... I literally ran in... there was NO ONE inside waiting! No one at the windows... and some woman moping the floor. I was freaked out! I was frantically ringing the little bell at the window and then someone came out and helped me. She asked #1 - why was I so late! UGH... anyways - got the Visa! Yeehaw - we can leave tomorrow!
We headed back to the apartment to relax! Funny - relax! We hung out for awhile - let "O" run around then we walked down the hill to McDonald's!
Turns out - O does not appreciate the taste of McD's (not yet anyways!) It sure tasted good to us! Walked back - or atleast we walked and O was carried! Tried to go to sleep - which was a challenge - since O could not get comfortable!
Finally - the end is here and we are heading home tomorrow (Thursday!) We are soooo excited to get the heck outta here!