Furloughed...and loving it?

Todd has been furloughed for 8 days now.

8 days that he has been home.  With no pay.  No reassurance that he will get to go back soon.  And no confirmation that he will get back pay for the days he's been out.

It's a big blow to our current income, our savings, and our security.  It's a big blow that does just that - blows.

Yet, I feel like this week has been good for us.  All of us.

Whinnie is thrilled to have her favorite buddy at home to follow from room to room.  Someone to take her on extra potty breaks.  Throw her squeaky pink elephant for her one extra time.

Todd is getting home projects (particularly the master bathroom) banged out left and right.  He's sleeping in and catching up on rest, running, and his sanity.

I'm loving having an adult to talk to during the day.  Someone to chat up over a sandwich at lunchtime.  Being able to share a morning cup of coffee with my best friend. 

Seeing his drive to get things done has in turn given me more drive to spend my breaks and downtime in between work assignments actually doing something productive -- cleaning...organizing...blogging.

And Nick is beside himself with the joy of getting to see Daddy first thing every morning.  The minute I walk into his room in the morning, he smiles at me, says "Hi mommy!" and in the same breath follows up with "go see Daddy!"

Our money may be tighter than ever before, but for some reason, we've been able to push that fear to the back of our minds and focus on the fact that we're all benefiting from spending this extra time together.

We've made it a point to cook all of our meals at home - no quick McDonald's breakfast in the morning just because.  No weekly $5 footlongs at Subway.  Even the cheapest of splurges have been cut. 

And surprisingly enough, no dinners out (with the exception of 1/2 price burger night at Brion's on Tuesday...but mom & dad paid) combined with the week long downpour we've been having, and the extensive amount of indoors time we've been racking up, we have yet to get on each others nerves.

This is, I'm sure, due in large part to the fact that Todd is far less stressed and far more rested.  The fact that I'm loving having company during the day.  And the fact that our toddler is, in my not so humble opinion, the most hilarious little dude ever.

We spend mornings and evenings with Nick relishing in the sweet, silly things that come out of his little mouth. 

Just this morning, after waking up and running in to see Daddy - per his usual request these days - Nick climbed into our bed, pointed to my pillow, and said "sit wight here mommy!"  After obeying his demands, he rolled into my arms and said " 'nuggle, mommy!  'nuggle!"  So we did...we snuggled.  Despite the fact that we were not dressed yet.  His face was crusted with residual snot and drool from a stuffy-nosed nights sleep.  And we were already 10 minutes late to get to daycare.  We snuggled.  Whinnie asleep on Todd's leg.  Nick curled into my arms...one little hand clasping  Daddy's. 

And while the bills keep rolling in, and the threat of draining our savings until this government shutdown comes to an end looms heavy in the background...this morning, and this whole week, I have been easily reminded of just how truly rich our family is.  A richness that cannot be bankrupted - furlough or not.