Joseph

Dear Middle Child - I've always loved you best because you were my challenge and it made me become the woman I am today. You cried often, had no patience and wore faded hand me downs. You could play in the dirt and leave your toys all over the livingroom floor and you helped me understand that the world would not collapse if you went to bed with dirty feet. You were the child of my busy, ambitious years and without you, I would not have survived the job changes, moves and the routine that is marriage. Never in your life will you get anything first, but it only makes you stronger.

Joseph Patrick Rich was born on August 2, 2004, the year after Steve and I were married. He arrived one week early, after giving me a scare. While I was pregnant I developed inter-uterin growth restriction or in otherwords, my amniotic fluid level was very low. We were going in for stress tests and ultra sounds every other day, then one day at the doctor's office, he stripped my membranes and sent me to the hospital. Right after I got there, I was given an epidural and was feeling no pain at all. It was a much better labor than Greg's! I wanted Joseph to be born on August 2nd because Greg is September 2, Steve is Feb. 22 and I'm April 22. Well, he came at 11:52 p.m. only 8 minutes to spare!