Worlds End State Park

Yesterday we spent the day at one of our favorite places, Worlds End. About a 50 minute drive from Bloomsburg, we have spent many days and nights (backpacking) in this area and we just love being there. Yesterday was a particularly beautiful day and we had a picnic lunch and then played at the small beach area near the visitor's center. The water was pretty chilly, but the air was warm and humid, so it felt great. Trafton enjoyed the water very much and only started to fuss when he finally got cold. Neither Daniel nor I have ever been much for sitting around on the beach or at a pool (we both prefer to be in the water), so Trafton tends to spend alot of time in the water as well.

Crawling around the area where we had our lunch - Trafton was pretty excited to find this rock to walk around.

Lunchtime

We were right next to the Loyalsock Creek

Having a little bit of sand time

Whoa - that water is chilly!

Trafton even liked being chest deep in the water and spent alot of time just walking around with us.

Once he got his head and face wet, he seemed to enjoy it. Then he kept trying to stick his mouth in the water and lick it.

Visit to the Nephrologist

This past Tuesday Trafton had an ultrasound to check on his kidney and also an appointment with the nephrologist (kidney specialist). We haven't been back since everything looked good with his one right kidney last June, but we were told to come back in for a check up at one year of age. The ultrasound tech did a great job with Trafton! He let Trafton get comfortable with him and gave him little belly tickles before the cold gel part. Trafton was really great, but when the lights went down it was obvious he got a bit uncomfortable. He maintained his calm self until about halfway through, then just started grabbing the tools, squirming, and screaming. After the whole injectable dye via a catheter ultrasound of his kidney last year when he was just a week old, though, this was a piece of cake :) There was an intern with the ultrasound tech and when the tech said that he was still unable to locate a left kidney in Trafton (which, really, after one year of not finding one . . . I am pretty sure one isn't just gonna pop up) the intern commented that he only had one kidney as well. What are the chances? We then went to see kidney specialist and after reviewing the ultrasound, she said that the kidney that Trafton does have, the right one, is in perfect condition. It is the size of an average seven-year-old's kidney which is exactly the size that it should be for the overcompensating that it needs to be doing. After that bit of good news, she also told us that she noticed a cyst attached to Trafton's bladder and that he would need to be referred to a urologist. She explained to us that during the 5-6 week gestation period in the womb, when Trafton's kidney/bladder ball of cells failed to develop correctly and form two kidneys, this cyst must've also formed and attached to his bladder. She spoke with the urologist who said that he wanted to see us in six months to determine whether the cyst was growing and/or if it needs to be removed. It sounds like there is nothing to worry about at this time and we made an appointment in January. The nephrologist also mentioned that when reviewing the ultrasounds from last year the cyst could be seen (but had been incorrectly labeled) and it didn't appear that it had grown at all. That is good news.

Melissa and Jonathan Get Married!

This weekend Daniel's brother, Jonathan, married his beautiful bride, Melissa. The wedding was wonderful and it was terrific to see the two of them so happy and also to celebrate with the whole Beyer clan.

My parents came to our house on Wednesday evening and we left for the event on Thursday morning. It was the first time we have left Trafton for two days. I was a little nervous, but everthing went very well. It was pretty fun to be a free and easy childless couple for two days/nights, I must admit!

On Thursday, we toured around Bethlehem, PA in the afternoon. We went to the Steel Stacks (an old steel factory that closed its doors in the mid-1990s). It was neat because the area is being converted into an arts center. We went out to lunch at the Bethlehem Brew Works and then walked around the shops before heading over to Allentown to check into our hotel.

Thursday evening found me relaxing at the bar with members of the Beyer family while the wedding party was rehearsing at the venue in Gilbertsville. When everyone returned to the hotel, we had a delicious dinner right in the hotel. There was an inside area for us to eat with a bar set up just for us and we also had a large private terrace overlooking the pool to hang out on.

On Friday we slept in, had a big breakfast, and lounged by the pool - although we didn't last long in the record three digit temperature! We had a late lunch at a nearby Italian place that we could walk to from the hotel, then it was time to shower and get ready for the wedding! The groomsmen left the hotel at 3:00 and the rest of guests left at 4:00 in two school busses. The wedding did not begin until 5:30, but the venue was 45 minutes away. There was a bit of trouble when the first schoolbus, the one that I was riding, overheated and broke down. First the bus driver turned the air conditioning off, which was a little hard to handle, then eventually she just had to pull it over because the engine got too hot to continue running. Luckily, the second school bus was not far behind and was able to pick us up. Here's a funny little miracle - the bus driver of the second bus was adamant about only letting on enough people to make 48 - the max capacity of the bus. There were 14 people on the second bus and 34 people of the bus that I was on - the one that broke down. 48 exactly and we all got to the wedding right at 5:30. How perfect!

The ceremony and cocktail hour were planned to be outside, but with these record temperatures, it just wasn't an option. It was really okay, because this facility was beautiful! It was a terrific ceremony, the food was delicious, and an excellent time was had by all. I am so happy for the two of them!

In the lobby of Bethlehem Brew Works

Ready to hit the rehearsal dinner

At the rehearsal dinner - Less that 24 hours until they are married :)

Uncle Bob, Aunt Loretta (and Jonathan)

Aunt Loretta and Jonathan

We fully enjoyed our baby free evening together.

Aunt Sharon, Uncle Don, and Daniel

The groomsmen, minus Jaber, plus cousin Bob

All the male members of the wedding party in the hotel lobby getting ready to board the limo with the cooler of drinks - they had chocolate brown pinstriped tuxes with pink ties and all looked great!

Watching the bridesmaids come down the aisle

The pastor did a great job and Melissa and Jonathan wrote their own vows, which were very touching.

Melissa's mom and Aunt Loretta light the unity candle together

You may kiss the bride!

One table of Beyers

and another table of Beyers

Kelly and me

Amy and Scott are engaged! They shared their good news with us at the wedding!

Michael, Courtney, and Kevin

Bob and Kelly

Daniel and Michael escorted Melissa's friend, Rachel

Everyone is ready for the bride and groom to be introduced!

First dance

Melissa and her dad, Ken

Bartenders Ethan, Jaber, and Travis

Ready to start dancing!

Dancing with Debbie

Kelly and Al

Aunt Loretta and Uncle Bob

Uncle Don and Aunt Sharon

Courtney got Michael to dance ?

Tom and Kristen gettin' down

The groomsmen all decided to take their shirts off and just wear the vests.

I don't think Courtney can believe how much dancing her fiance is doing!

This beautiful bride did plenty of dancing!

Scott asked Daniel to be his best man at his wedding during the reception.

Cake cutting - they each got to do a little bit of smashing :)

Kevin refused to dance.

Bouquet toss

Garter removal

Garter toss

The recipient of the garter was WNEP (our local news in Bloomsburg) reporter Reagan Medgie - it's always funny to see someone you are used to watching on TV out and about in real life :)

I love this picture of all of us :)

There was a ton of beautiful stone and wood in the venue.

Trafton's babysitters!

Grandpop and Grandmom