I wouldn't leave her with access to being outdoors unattended. Too many things can go wrong in that situation: getting out of the fence, eating something poisionous, digging up the yard and getting causing trouble, someone stealing her, etc. It seems like the amount she'd be in her crate/playpen is not excessive (IMO). If she can't go 3 hrs without peeing, your husband could always get up after 2 hrs and let her out to just pee and then put her back to bed.
We had a pretty similar schedule when Johann was younger. Hubby would get up at 6 with the dog, he'd be out and playing until around 7:30. Then I'd get home around 8 am, let him play and be out for around 45 minutes. Then he'd sleep in his crate until noon-ish, I'd get up and bring him out to pee/poop. We'd usually go for a short (5-10 minute) walk down the road, then he'd go back into his crate until around 5 pm. Then he'd be out with myself and/or hubby until bedtime around 10:30 or 11.
Johann is still happy to sleep in his crate or on the couch until around noontime (when I get up on days off, or get up to let him out on days that I work). I make sure he gets some decent playtime and running around beforehand though. I can't figure out how we'd do it if we both worked the same shift (Hubby works 8 am to 4:30 pm, I work 7 pm to 7 am).
Congrats on the new addition.
