I've sort've been keeping some information under wraps for the last five years because it's not the thing you want to advertise on the Internet.
When the economy hit the skids back in 2007, Spouse's job was one of those hundreds of thousands that bit it big time here in Indiana. Talk about your nightmares. There was no employment to be had - and especially if you had any education (he has a Master's). After about a year, he finally landed a job, but it was third shift.
(No woman in her right mind is going to announce online that she and her young daughter are sleeping home alone every night, so that's why very few people knew about it.)
The work was manual, the pay, crap (less than half his former salary). So it's been tough financially and emotionally because having the Daddy-Man living on a different schedule is just not conducive to family happiness. Somebody's always tired, you can't plan on doing activities at normal times, and it's really kind of lonely for everyone. Oh, and trips... trips are just plain hellish.
Well, friends, I'm here to announce that Spouse has a new job... and it's during the day!!! He's now a supervisor at U Indy - he started last week. He took us to visit his office on Sunday, and I must say he's fixed it up fine. The only thing it's missing is windows, but he's got lovely lights on a dimmer, so he's escaped the dreaded florescent "hummers" that typically illuminate the workplace.
He and Gigi and I have spent this past week luxuriating in his vertical presence during the day. I love having him next to me at night while we laugh and make fun of whatever is on the television. Of course, it's not all roses. The logistics of three people suddenly being on the same schedule has been surprisingly tricky - we've had to rearrange shower and laundry times, who drops off and picks up the kid every day, and all sorts of other things.
BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE OUR FAMILY IS ONCE AGAIN ON THE SAME SCHEDULE!!!
Today just happens to be Spouse's 50th birthday, and Gigi and I are so looking forward to celebrating it with him today rather than on the weekend!
This really IS awesome, and I just wanted to share!
Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day.
Deborah
SO happy for you Deborah!
Posted by: Linda Baker | September 10, 2015 at 03:47 PM
fantastic news and so happy for the three of you!! the best is yet to be!!
Posted by: Betty | September 10, 2015 at 04:05 PM
So happy for you. Enjoy your family birthday celebration.
Posted by: Tracy | September 10, 2015 at 04:19 PM
So very happy for you all! Yeah! Happy Birthday Mr. Deborah's hubby!
Posted by: stampersuzz | September 10, 2015 at 05:07 PM
That's good news especially as it is in time to celebrate a family birthday. We had to do the night shift run with hubby years ago when my oldest was just 2yrs old. Only lasted for 3 months but it was long enough. My sleep patterns have never gone back to normal which is why I'm such a night owl. Hugs Mrs A.
Posted by: Mrs A. | September 10, 2015 at 06:01 PM
That is FANTASTIC news & I'm glad you shared it....I'm sure there are so many peeps out there going through the same thing....you may just have shone a light into their tunnel. Hope you all have a wonderful, celebratory weekend :):)
Posted by: Lizzy Hill | September 10, 2015 at 06:54 PM
Thank you, everyone - my heart is overflowing!
Posted by: Deborah | September 10, 2015 at 09:42 PM
I know exactly how you felt when your hubby worked nights and how you feel now....I know you're happier and very relieved too.
My hubby was on that schedule the first 15 years of our marriage! We still managed to have 2 children fairly quickly, so I was home alone at night with 2 small children in a big city for many years..... Only family and close friends knew.
I felt much more at ease when we got our first Rottweiler when the kids were 2 and 4, our personal body guard!.... Best dogs ever! Wasn't without one until we lost our precious Bear last summer. But my hubby has been home at night for the last 20 years! (Of course the kids are grown and gone now, with families of their own!)
Posted by: Paula B | September 11, 2015 at 03:42 AM
I am happy for you ! It's was hard for my husband too here in Canada. It took him 2 years to find a job and at least I had one during that long time, but it was really hard time.
Posted by: NatQuebec | September 11, 2015 at 05:42 AM
How great it that! I'm a firm believer that the more time you spend together, the better the relationship. It's worked for me for 48 years! God bless your family.
Posted by: Carolyn Picken | September 11, 2015 at 06:38 AM
That is fantastic news, congrats to the family! Happy birthday to the hubs!
Posted by: Monica Maier | September 11, 2015 at 08:28 AM
Great news for your family! Life sure gets in the way sometimes. Happy Birthday to your husband!
Posted by: Nancy Ward | September 11, 2015 at 08:44 AM
Happy birthday to your newly daytime-vertical spouse! And congratulations ESPECIALLY for the new job . . . such a wonderful relief to be fully employed once again. May the job be a satisfying one - likewise the paycheck - and may normal hours and activities remain the norm for the duration!
Posted by: Sue Speck | September 11, 2015 at 09:07 AM
What a wonderful, joyful and encouraging post! I am so happy for you and your family and even more grateful for this bit of yourself you share with us on your blog every week. From the bottom of my heart... THANK YOU!
Posted by: Scrapbooklynne | September 11, 2015 at 12:06 PM
Congratulations!! It's great. My husband lost his job in June. I hope he finds one soon. So enjoy your new situation.
Posted by: Marga | September 11, 2015 at 01:37 PM
So happy for you and your family, Deb! Happy Birthday to hubby, too!
Posted by: Linda Grady | September 11, 2015 at 03:32 PM
Hurrah!! I very well remember the short time hubby & I were on different schedules & I began to wonder if I was really married! What a fabulous 50th birthday--hope you guys had a wonderful celebration yesterday!
Posted by: Greta H | September 11, 2015 at 05:03 PM
So very happy for your family, Deborah!
Posted by: Vickie Yeakley | September 11, 2015 at 06:19 PM
Thank you, everyone, for all of your love and support. I shared your well wishes with Spouse and Gigi, and they are just as touched as I am by your outpouring of affection. God bless you all!
Posted by: Deborah | September 12, 2015 at 07:17 AM
YAY!!!! That's AWESOME News....So Happy for you and your Hubby!! xoxoxo
Posted by: kellybooth | September 12, 2015 at 09:18 AM
Congratulations!!!! You and your family deserve it!!! You do so much for everyone else, Now it's your time!!!!
I am so happy for you and tell your husband I said Happy Birthday!!!!
Posted by: Sabrina Radican | September 13, 2015 at 07:16 AM
Congrats on getting your man back and happy happy to him. Must be a relief to be back on the same schedule. Hugz
Posted by: ionabunny | September 13, 2015 at 07:47 AM
Oh my gosh Deborah, I am so happy for your little family! What an irony that having more education can turn out to be a drawback, right? My son is in a similar predicament, his Masters degree scares prospective employers away and they think he's overqualified. All he wants is a full-time job but the economy is still in the doldrums. I completely understand the intricacies of adjusting to new schedules but it's all worth it! This is probably even a happier birthday for your husband, with the wonderful news!
Posted by: karenladd | September 14, 2015 at 11:43 PM
That's great news! Jo x
Posted by: Dotty Jo | September 15, 2015 at 01:42 PM
So happy for you all.
Posted by: Janet Swanlady21 | October 6, 2015 at 08:18 AM
that is FANTASTIC News! My hubby has lost two jobs in her career to downsizing and one company going out of business..so I hear you on the challenge and we did end up with some of the awful low paying, lousy hour jobs...more so when my kids were little, which made it hard on me. Thankfully, he found a new career about 16 years ago now and has been with the same company since then and continue to do better and move up the ladder. It is HARD to start over in your 40's 50's and even old, so I'm grateful this worked out and that THANK GOD we have good health insurance there. With my cancer battle, having good insurance has been so vita...so I feel blessed and lucky! I guess it just shows that even in the hard times...if you wait and continue to look...you'll find something better! SO happy that came true for you too.!
Posted by: Lisa Haines | October 6, 2015 at 10:03 AM