The Giudice family copes with Teresa's absence on Bravo's The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In, where viewers see how Joe handles raising their four daughters.

In a preview for the three-part special, Teresa, who is serving her 15-month sentence at the Federal Correction institution in Danbury, Conn., keeps in close contact with Joe and her girls (Gia, 14; Gabriella, 10; Milania, 9; and Audriana, 5) with both visits and phone calls.

In the clip, the father-of-four admits, "It's hard keeping up with all these kids ... I'm doing a lot ... I think I've even lost about 10 pounds."

Joe, 45, said of Teresa: "It's amazing how she just still controls everything from in there, you know what I mean?"

And while The Real Housewives of New Jersey star serves her sentence, she's heard praying for her brood, saying, "Oh, please God, bring me home to my family as soon as possible and bless my four daughters and my husband. Amen."

Also seen in the clip are relatives Joe and Melissa Gorga, providing comfort to the family in their time of need. (And with his sister behind bars, alpha male Joe Gorga admits he's "a little b*tch" when it comes to his family.)

At one point, the articulate Gia tells Melissa that Joe "tries his best" and is doing a "pretty good" job at the head of the household, bit it remains "rough without my mom there."

As Breaking Celebrity News previously reported, the 43-year-old is due to conclude her prison stint, in connection with financial fraud, just before Christmas, on December 23. She will then wrap up the remainder of the sentence on home arrest. At that point, Joe will enter prison for a 41-month sentence, with the possibility for more due to a separate conviction.

The first installment of The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In