Heather Shoemaker of Wyoming practiced law out of her home for about six months after leaving The Law Offices of Vernon Dill in late 2007. By the middle of 2007 she had found a suitable office to rent in downtown Cheyenne, and she hung out her shingle there on August 1.

Her husband Jeremy was working as a software engineer on a contract basis at the time, and he too was working from home. "That was a really good period," Heather Shoemaker of Wyoming recalls today. "Not very workable, because it's better for my practice if I have an established commercial office of my own. But it was nice that we were just a shout away from each other for those six months or so."

Jeremy has since begun working for a startup called Flat Mountain Solutions, where he is the head software engineer. He and his colleagues work long hours trying to keep the struggling company afloat. Heather Shoemaker of Wyoming also works long hours in her law practice, and so the two have had no choice but to take on help in caring for their three young children. They have had three au pairs since their oldest child Celeste was born in early 2006. The first two, Jennifer and Melinda, were both from England, and the third, Rita, is from Germany. 

Heather Shoemaker of Wyoming says all three young women became like members of the family. Each has cared for the children and done light housework in exchange for room board, and a small salary. It was hard on the kids when Jennifer and Melinda had to finally return home, Heather says, adding that it will probably be the same when Rita leaves. By then she says she hopes to have another arrangement for the kids. "But maybe not. The au pair program works for us."