Rachel went to the eye doctor this morning.  She was very nervous that they would put drops in her eyes, but they didn't.    Her eyes are fine -- the glasses have actually improved her vision.  I guess the doctor was worried about a "lazy eye" before, but wearing the glasses has helped focus her eyes and made the optic nerve in the lazier eye stronger.  She will keep the same prescription for now.  And her next appointment is next year.

Meanwhile, Ben will be getting braces soon!  We went on Monday afternoon for an appointment where they reviewed his models and x-rays with us, and told us what his treatment plan would be.  He has three appointments in the next two weeks, during which they will put in one of those palate expander things.  (I think the first appointment is where they put little rubber bands between his molars to separate them a bit; the second appointment is to put the metal bands around his molars; and the third is to insert the palate expander thingy.)  The palate expansion sounds totally excruciating, but Dr. S says it's not (and he's usually candid about these sorts of things. It's nice to be working with an orthodontist whom one already knows well).  Also, apparently the palate-expanding part is over in as little as three weeks.  Then Ben will have braces for a couple of years.  He's actually looking forward to it.  I don't think he realizes yet how uncomfortable it will be -- but on the other hand, it may not be as uncomfortable for him as it was for me.  There was no one in his first grade class last year who had braces.  We'll see if he's the first person in his second grade class to get them.