Sick Kids and Doctors Appointments

I have spent more time and money at some sort of doctor's office (human and animal) over the past two weeks than I  normally do in 6 months time. Why not keep this record going, right?

Last night my eldest child began complaining that her throat really hurt. I used my wanna-be doctor skills and had her say "ahhhh" as I shined a light into her mouth. I found huge tonsils, red streaks, and the beginnings of white puss pockets. Strep... hooray.
sorry if you're reading this over breakfast.

Immediately, I knew that I had to call this morning to make an appointment to see our doctor. I dreaded the actual appointment before I even knew what time my torture would begin. I just wish that somewhere on our files it read:

"This mom is not psycho and anytime she brings her kids in they really are sick and need meds. Get a soul and just call in antibiotics if she calls and swears her kids have Strep or Pink Eye. Thank you."

Of course, my file does not have this printed anywhere in it. Therefore, I get to waste almost half of a working day just sitting there. A typical time for us to be at the doctor's office is 3 hours. This is WITH an appointment. Then I get to load up my sick and cranky kids and take them to the pharmacy where I could wait an additional 45 minutes. (even with the meds called in... explain this to me..)

Not being in the medical field I try to tell myself that I just don't understand what's going on behind the scenes. However, when I ask the 5 people near me "what doctor are you here to see," and "what time was your appointment" and they all answer the same doctor and the same time as me.. it's hard to not be annoyed.

So, I asked for an appointment with a doctor that I know to be a bit faster than my favorite one in the practice in hopes that I won't have to prepare myself for quite as much hell-on-earth this afternoon. We'll see if my cleverness pays off with us getting out of Dodge before we contract the Swine Flu or the stomach virus on top of our current disease.