Days with the Dorans

Last week, Joey got his braces.  I was excited to get him from school and take him to his appointment.  Joey wasn't scared about getting braces (if he was, he didn't show it) and was looking forward to getting out of school a little early.  There was a bit of excitement when I picked him up (he'll remember the story and so will I) with another student and some police and Joe was pretty funny.  When he left his room to come to the office, he was asked by his principal to not watch what was going on and go back to his room (I don't think the principal knew he was being picked up).  Joey said, "But I knew you were here mom and my braces were important so I just closed my eyes and didn't look.  I counted to ten and they were gone so I knew I could come to the office.  Sorry I am a few minutes late." Thankfully we made it to the appointment on time.  The office is heaven to a kid.  There are video games, soft-serve ice cream machines and a...

 So at Joey's last teeth cleaning (or perhaps it was two cleanings ago), Dr. S. told us that perhaps we should talk to an orthodontist about Joe's teeth.  Long story VERY short.  We did.  The plan is for him to have an expander, braces and then a retainer.  On December 30, Jeff took Joe to get his expander. When they got home, Jeff handed me a bag with some instructions and some weird looking thing that was a "key" (but it didn't look like a key).  He told me that I would have to be the one to turn the key because he could NEVER turn it for Joey.  He said, "I had an expander and it was the WORST PAIN EVER!  I could NEVER do that to my son." And yes... he said this in front of Joe.  Joe talked a little funny at first, but got used to it rather quickly and thankfully didn't prove to be as big a baby as his dad! So Yes, I was the one to turn the key.  I googled it though and watched YouTube videos a few times just t...