She's HEEERRREEE!!!!

The last several weeks have been a roller coaster in the child-care department. This momma was STRESSED about the upcoming year....life as a single mom of 2 toddlers, working some seriously crazy hours an OB/GYN...is there anyone out there who could keep up with this crazy household???
We started looking for an Au Pair...I was excited about having an international nanny. I though it would be a great experience for all of us....1 small problem, however. Au Pair's are technically required to only work 45 hrs/week, and while i may be able to bend the rules for my "typical week" of 50-ish hrs, i certainly couldn't bend them enough to cover my 85+ hr weeks. Plus, it takes a very special person to keep up with my crazy 3 year olds, and i was just nervous. We had a couple of very promising and exciting prospects, that ultimately fell through, and i was basically totally freaking out.
Until......Laura!!! My frantic prayers were unexpectedly answered when i reconnected through some round-about channels to a childhood family friend. Laura was living in Ohio, and had heard about our situation, and was willing to try life in the wild, wild west with the wild, wild stickley crew.
I'm not sure she knew what she was in for, but she certainly seems up to the challenge! the girls adored her from the second she walked through the door (after a 20+hr drive across the US!), and we are all super excited for what the year holds for us, in spite of our crazy circumstances.