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- [00:03]
A
Welcome to the carpool podcast with Kelly.
- [00:06]
B
Like, I'm a full fledged adult now from having the flu last year. Like, there was just something about it, like, having to take care of that many people. I'm an adult.
- [00:13]
C
And Liz, I now fully understand what you were referring to. It's not so much like, you will never. Like, it's not so much that you have this trauma. You're just in it and you're like, how does my life ever look normal again after this?
- [00:27]
A
Your mom time off starts now.
- [00:32]
B
Welcome back to the Carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. I'm not sick. I just have a horse, a frog in my throat. I'm hoarse.
- [00:43]
C
Oh, my God.
- [00:44]
B
What am I?
- [00:46]
C
I don't. I don't know. You sound rough. I have. I have come back from the dead. Call me Lazarus, because I'm. I'm back, baby.
- [00:58]
D
The flu.
- [00:59]
C
Here's what I have to say. Wtf? WT Flu? What the heck is that?
- [01:06]
B
Well, I think it's just important everyone remembers there's been sick. There's. You have a runny nose, like a cough. There's even like, you have a low fever. And then there's the flu. And the two are not the same.
- [01:19]
C
The flu. I remember the year was 2020 and I had, within a matter of like three or four months, I had the stomach flu. I had the regular flu. I had strep throat, and I had Covid. And I remember saying the flu was the worst of all of those.
- [01:43]
B
Right.
- [01:45]
C
It not when someone says they have the flu.
- [01:50]
E
It's.
- [01:50]
C
The thing is, like most. Most like, viral sicknesses are like, okay, you're gonna be out for 48 hours and then you're gonna be feeling better. Flu.
- [01:59]
B
You're out for a week solid seven days.
- [02:03]
C
Yeah, yeah. We're still recovering. I am on day seven, so I still have a bit of a cough, but I'm feeling so much better.
- [02:10]
D
But we had.
- [02:14]
C
Three ER visits. AM 91 1ambulance call this week. Both my kids got sick. Maddie somehow made it through unscathed, but I was. I was down. The kids were down, and it was rough. And that is something I want to talk about. I kind of post. I posted on my stories. Like, we went to the ER a couple times and I had so many people messaging me, like, what made you go to the er? Why did you just go to the ER for the flu? Kind of a rude question to ask someone. So I wanted to talk about what made me go to the error and like, what symptoms we were having. Because I have Found when I've talked about, like Sloan's F pies. It's been really helpful to people when you've talked about one of the reads. Some of your kids sicknesses actually really helped me during this flu season. So I want to talk about my past week.
- [03:08]
B
The platform is yours. This is your platform.
- [03:12]
C
You're kind of hard to listen to.
- [03:13]
B
Right now, first of all. Totally.
- [03:15]
C
Why don't you rest your voice? So let's talk about my last week. Monday morning, I wake up and I'm.
- [03:24]
D
Like, oh, I'm not feeling very well.
- [03:26]
C
I'm kind of like, low key. Have to stay in bed all day. This is weird. I still think maybe it's just like a cold or something. Like, I'll kick this Tuesday. I wake up, holy smokes, I'm in a bad spot. Still didn't know it was the flu, so I'm laying in bed. We have child care, so our nanny was at our house because I didn't know how serious it was yet again, I still think like, oh, have a little cold. 9am she knocks on my door, in my bedroom door, which she never does unless it's an emergency. And she's like, something's wrong with James. She brings him to me, and he was fine this morning. He was fine in the morning. And she goes, he ate breakfast. He went to the living room to play, and he was, like, silent. So she went to check on him, and he was standing there. Eyes were kind of like rolling, and he was shaking and he was not responsive. So she brings him to me. I bring him in bed. I can feel he's getting sweaty, he's getting hot. I can literally feel his temperature rising as I'm holding him. Throws up on me out of his nose. I'm like, what the heck is that? Bring him into the bathroom. And he starts. He's like, unresponsive. I'm calling Maddie, I'm calling Kelly. I'm like, what is going on? I take a video of him because he starts twitching on one side and I'm like, oh, he's having a febrile seizure right now. And I knew about this because Hattie had one. And Kelly had told me about that traumatizing story from her. So I was like, okay, I need to call 91 1. So I call the Maddie leaves work. He starts driving home. He's like 20 minutes, 25 minutes away from home. I call the ambulance. James is covered in vomit. I'm covered in vomit. ER gets here or ambulance gets here. And they tell me he's having a seizure. They run an IV in, like, in the truck. And then I'm still so. I'm like, still so sick. So Maddie gets to our house and he goes to the ER with James always comforting. When the ambulance, the MTs tell you you did the right thing, they were like, we needed to get. We were able to get an IV on him. We were able to stop the seizure.
- [05:39]
B
Yeah.
- [05:40]
C
Something that I did that was helpful was I did take a video of his seizure because it was a slightly abnormal one because it was on one side of his body. So that did raise alarm for the doctor. And we're going to be getting a follow up, like, brain scan for him, so hopefully that just, like, comes up clear. But a note I would give. I'm happy I have that video that we were able to show the doctor.
- [06:04]
B
Also, like, if you can record it, it can also help time it, because timing the seizure and telling them how long it is is also really important.
- [06:13]
C
Yeah.
- [06:13]
B
Hattie's seizure, when she had it, it was not very long. It was probably a total of like, 35 to 45 seconds. But then after she was unresponsive, which was scary. And, like, I just think if they're having a SEIZURE, you call 91 1, like, sure. Could you. Could they come out of it? And could you take them to the er? Sure. But I agree, like, my EMT said the same thing. They're like, I'm so happy you called us and didn't, like, try to drive her there.
- [06:37]
C
Yeah, exactly. So that was our first ER visit. While he was there, we found out that he had flu A, which means, oh, shoot, Mom, I had flu. I have flu A as well. So that was Tuesday, Wednesday. I'm like, kind of on the mend, but also in a bad spot. Kids both have fevers. We're treating them. You know, I'm calling the pediatrician. I'm following up with all the people. Maddie stays home from work to take care of all of us, and we're just trying to get better. Thursday. So then that night, I slept with James. I had James sleep with me all night. Maddie slept with Sloan all night because I wanted, like, 247 monitoring of my children. James wakes up the next morning, and he, like, can't. He's having, like, a very hard time breathing.
- [07:27]
D
And I'm like, all right, well, we're.
- [07:29]
C
Going back to the er that time I went, because he ended up. It ended up being croup. And it sounded like croup, but also his breathing was very labored. It was very loud. It's called strider is what the doctor told me. Both of those ER visits, there was no question for me, it was like, no, he has. He has to go right now.
- [07:52]
D
There.
- [07:52]
C
They gave us a nebulizer, they gave us a steroid. Left that ER visit feeling okay again. I did the right thing. He needed this treatment, so I was happy about that. That day, both the kids end up breaking their fevers. We're fever free for 24 hours. We're still kind of not feeling great, but we're fever free. Thank goodness. Next morning, James wakes up with a fever again. And also he's extremely tired. Where Sloan is getting better, James is getting worse. So I called the pediatrician and they said if his Fever reaches over 101 and if he's super tired, unresponsive, you take him Back to the ER. Clocked him at 102 that evening. So this time I took him back to the er. They weren't really able to do anything. They ran tests. I thought it was pneumonia, but everything came back fine. He did. They did find an ear infection, so they gave us antibiotics for that. That was the only ER visit that, like, maybe was unnecessary. But at that point, I was just following the pediatrician's instructions. So, anyway, today everyone is doing a lot better. We're coughing, but, like, we're coughing it up, you know?
- [09:03]
E
Yeah.
- [09:03]
C
Our nose is running, but, like, we're getting. We're getting it all out of our system. We're all fever free. It's fine. What I've learned, because, like, while ER trips are serious and also this is probably going to be super freaking expensive. That's fine. I don't care. It's not that big of a deal. Like, if you don't. Before this, I was like, I can only, like, call the ambulance or, like, go to the ER if, like, someone's bone is broken. Like, it feels so serious to go to the er. But I've also found that just especially a pediatric ER that can get you in really quickly, luckily there's one close to us. So, like, there's not a wait time really, necessarily. If you're just, like, not sure and you're, like, really struggling with it and you're really scared, it's okay to just take them. Like, no one is going to think that you're crazy.
- [09:57]
B
Right.
- [09:57]
C
For getting your child checked out. Yeah. So that's something that I've learned.
- [10:02]
B
And see, I disagree with. Or I'm. I am happy you took him the third time because I. They did give him fluids, which, like, could have been help, which could have definitely been helpful in him feeling better. And I was with you. I was not convinced it wasn't ammonia or something like that. So.
- [10:18]
E
Anna.
- [10:18]
B
So I'm. I'm happy that you took him for that reassurance again.
- [10:24]
D
Right.
- [10:24]
C
And like Sloan, I never had to take her because I'm like, she's just sick. Like, you can just tell the difference, like, you know your kids. And like, also, I'm not a doctor, so I don't know anything. So I'm, like, going based off of what me and Chad GBT are trying to collect. So I'm not trusting that medical advice. So I wanted to go to the doctor and all was well.
- [10:49]
B
Yeah.
- [10:51]
C
So that's a little bit about what we've been through. Only bright side is that we are going to be fine by the holidays.
- [10:59]
B
That is such a bright side. And luckily, I haven't seen you in. In a long time, so I don't think we are at risk of catching what you guys had. And I'm just praying that we can stay healthy for the holidays. And I'm just thinking of all of you guys who might also be dealing with something like this because I just think the flu is really going around. And if you're not sick, my advice would be be prepping the house. Now, you know, if you have a few spare hours these next couple of weeks, is there a freezer meal that you could make to have on hand? You know, are you stocked on Tylenol? Does your thermometer work? Because when the flu hits you, it's too late. Do you know what I mean? So what can you do now to prep for that?
- [11:43]
C
Yeah, something I will never not have on hand is a. Is popsicles.
- [11:52]
D
I will always have.
- [11:53]
B
See, I'm not popsicle. So that's a tangible takeaway. That's a tangible takeaway. I don't have any popsicles right now. Okay. Popsicle would be good for me right now, to be honest.
- [12:06]
C
Anyone can use a popsicle. Just like always have popsicles in the fr. In the freezer is my advice. And God. And God speed and God bless, and I hope everyone stays healthy. But, Kel, when you said this happened last year and you, your family, you would never be the same from it. I now fully understand what you were referring to. It's not so much like you will never like. It's not so much that you have this trauma. You're just in it. And you're like, how does my life ever look normal again after this. And it will, obviously, but in the moment, you're like, what the actual heck is going on?
- [12:44]
B
Yeah. No, sounds silly to say that at the ripe age of 31. It made me grow up. But I grew up that week. Do you know what I mean? Like, I'm a full fledged adult now from having the flu last year. Like there was just something about it, like having to take care of that many people. I'm an adult. Like, I am now an official grown up.
- [13:02]
C
You know what? Maddie said the same thing about me. He goes, elizabeth, you've grown so much since I knew you five years ago when we met. I don't think you wouldn't have acted the way that you did this week to a lot of the situations that went down. Maddie said the same thing.
- [13:21]
B
Yeah. Like you've grown as a person, as a human.
- [13:25]
C
Health is wealth.
- [13:27]
B
Well, what's my favorite quote?
- [13:28]
C
Like, if you have your health, you have everything.
- [13:30]
B
My favorite quote is the healthy have 100 wishes and the unhealthy have one. You have to remember that.
- [13:38]
C
Yeah, yeah, totally. So anyway, that's what I wanted to say. So tis tis Christmas Eve. You know, one of your notes from last year was put put out podcasts the week of Christmases, you lazy.
- [13:59]
B
Yeah, girls. Yep.
- [14:01]
C
So here we are.
- [14:02]
B
Yep.
- [14:04]
C
Doing our best.
- [14:06]
B
Yeah. And like this is coming out on Christmas Eve, so I do feel it. Fear. As though the numbers could be quite low. But hopefully for those of you listening, it just provides a little bit of. A little bit of comfort, a little bit of razzle dazzle to your Christmas season.
- [14:21]
F
Today's episode is brought to you by Clean Simple Eats. We just can't stop talking about Clean Simple Eats here on the Carpool podcast. Kelly and I, both huge fans of Clean Simple Eats. We're having a CSE product daily like it's CSE o' clock in our household. I love their protein powder. They have a variety of delicious flavors and they are grass fed with no seed oils or artificial ingredients. Third party tested non GMO and gluten free and has 20 grams of grass fed whey protein. The protein powder is also incredibly creamy and smooth without that chalky texture that's found in most protein powders. I'm also a huge fan of their can drinks, specifically their energy drinks. I love the island paradise, Island Sunrise, something like that. That one's my favorite one. They're all delicious, but that one's my favorite. And I also love their clear sodas because it's a protein in a can. But it's a little bit carbonated, which I appreciate it as my afternoon pickme up. So you can visit cleancipes.com and use code CARPOOL10 at checkout for 10% off your order. If you're interested, that's cleansim.com code CARPOOL10 for 10% off your order link is also in the show notes.
- [15:36]
E
Today's episode is brought to you by Sundays for Dogs. We recently made the switch to Sundays for Dogs for Texas dog food, and he loves it. I loved the idea of fresh dog food made from clean ingredients, but, like, hated the idea of thawing out gross gunk and then serving it.
- [15:53]
F
I just, I couldn't get behind that.
- [15:55]
E
So what I like about Sundays is because the air drying process, you just pour and serve it.
- [16:00]
F
That's it.
- [16:00]
E
So it's, it's much more similar to the, the serving process of kibble, but it is fresh air dry dog food made from. Made from clean ingredients. And the recipes are customized based on the needs of your dog so its size, breed, allergies, activity levels, and more. Unlike other fresh dog foods, Sundays does not require thawing, refrigeration, or preparation. Because of that air drying process, Sundays has the absolute highest standards for quality and food safety. If it's not 100% all natural meat and superfoods with zero synthetic nutrients, artificial ingredients, then it's not Sundays. Make the switch to Sundays. Go right now to Sundays for dogs.com carpool and get 50 off your first order. Or you can use code carpool at checkout. That's 55o percent off your first order at Sundays for dogs.com Carpool Sundays for dogs.com Carpool or use code carpool at checkout.
- [16:54]
D
Okay. Last thing I want to talk about in regards to being sick, Kelly ordered me. You're such a good sister.
- [17:03]
B
Oh, my gosh. Thank you so much.
- [17:06]
D
Kelly ordered me a mobile IV to my bedside. So in it. I've never had a mobile iv. I've never had an IV outside of the hospital. I know that there's like IV bars that you can go to now where you, like, go to a place and they hook you up and then give you like vitamins or beauty stuff or hangover cures or whatever. But this one offered all that and also sick ones. So it was amazing.
- [17:35]
E
The.
- [17:36]
D
The nurse was telling me all about it. They only hire ER nurses for this.
- [17:40]
B
Hold on, let me look up the company because it's worldwide.
- [17:43]
C
Yeah, look up the company.
- [17:45]
B
Yeah, I think it's called IV drip.
- [17:52]
F
That.
- [17:53]
B
No, that no, I'm sorry. That's what the product's called.
- [17:56]
D
So they. This come when you find it. This company only hires ER nurses. And the reason being. And she was telling me, is because she's walked in to a man's home and was like, sir, you are too sick. You need to go to the emergency room. So they. She came in, she took my vitals, she came straight to my bedside. I didn't have to like, go downstairs on the couch. She hooked me up, she answered any questions I had about just like the general sickness that I'm experiencing. And she was like, I love this service because if you were to go to the ER and get this iv, it would cost you even if you have great insurance, probably around 500. And I think that this plus tip was around 300.
- [18:44]
B
Yeah, you paid for it.
- [18:46]
D
I can pay you back. And I. I know if you, like, go in person to some of those, like, bars or whatever, they're like, what are they?
- [18:57]
B
They're like half that.
- [18:58]
D
They'd be like, they're like half that.
- [19:01]
C
So if you.
- [19:01]
D
I couldn't have left. I couldn't have left my bed. It knocked me up a notch. It was great. It's a game changer. And I didn't have to go to the er. I didn't have to wait in the er. She came straight to my bedside. I would have not, not gotten this done if it weren't. If it weren't for the mobile. So something to consider. She did say they did immune ones as well. I almost had her come back to hit Maddie with one A service I will be frequenting again if you are that desperate. And again, there's not a cheaper option. It's not like the ER is a cheaper option.
- [19:37]
C
Going to one of those places in.
- [19:39]
D
Person is the cheaper option. Anyway, life Hack helped a lot. Yeah.
- [19:45]
B
So the company was called Drip Hydration and I just googled like near where Elizabeth lives. And it was very. They were able to come that same day, which I also really like. So I booked it, I think at 4 and they came to our house at 8:30, which was a little late. But like, whatever. That's when they could come.
- [20:03]
D
She told me, she goes, well, there's no. All the other girls that. There's only three girls in St. Louis that do it. She said they're out of town. And I just got off my work, but I saw your request come in. I'm like, oh, this poor girl's so sick. So she came straight after her work as an ER nurse. So God bless her.
- [20:18]
B
No, I love that it's an ER nurse. I just think them giving you a once over is, like, so good to hear.
- [20:24]
D
Exactly.
- [20:24]
B
And I'm so happy I thought of it. So I'm. I actually. I get IVs pretty frequently. I go to this place called Victory men's Health in St. Louis. It's a men's clinic, but I know the owner, and it's. I. I like the vibes there. Like, they put you in these, like, comfy massage chairs, and then you, like, basically just, like, look at framed photos of women. Like, it's a little weird, but it's kind of. But whatever. I like it. Not, like, overly sexy photos. Just, it's like, it's a place designed for men. But I go for the IVs, and I think that they help tremendously. And I didn't know how I could serve you because, like, no offense, like, didn't want to come anywhere near you. And you guys also, like, didn't want food because, like, you. You were. Mom had brought you dinner, and, like, you guys didn't really have much of an appetite. So I'm like, let's get this girl an iv. And it was a great process. The only thing that was funny was, like, I had to book it, so I booked it for you, but I acted like I was you. So I would, like, type my name, like, my name's Elizabeth St. John. And then a doctor has to call you to approve the iv. And they called, and they're like, hey, you know, I saw that you have this request for an iv. Like, what are you. Like, what do you need it for? And I'm like, oh, she has flu A. And he's like, you have flu A. And I'm like, I'm sick. Yeah, I have flu A. I wish I had this voice and I wouldn't have to pretend.
- [21:37]
D
I know.
- [21:38]
E
Yeah.
- [21:39]
D
But so, so clutch. Look it up if you need one. Worth its weight in gold for me. Really knocked me up a notch. She said I was super dehydrated because I, like, sucked. That Ivy upgraded that bag. I did. She was in and out.
- [21:56]
B
Well, while you were out, I had a pretty. Pretty good podcast episode go out. I just sat on the mic and told the herstory of the car mom, and it kind of got rave reviews. Did you ever get a chance to listen to it?
- [22:08]
D
I'm in the middle of listening to it right now.
- [22:11]
B
I almost didn't want you to listen to it, and I wanted you to record, like, the history of the car mom. From your pov.
- [22:18]
D
I feel like I could still do that and also listen to yours because.
- [22:21]
B
I just feel like you'll have, like, different stories or, like, different, like, you know. You know, tangible takeaways and, like, turning points on, like, when it started to get, you know, to what it is.
- [22:31]
D
Yeah, no, there's some. There's some good stories.
- [22:33]
C
It would be nice to be. It would be nice to revisit.
- [22:35]
D
I would love to tell my pov.
- [22:37]
B
Well, hopefully I don't get flu A, but if I do find myself with flu A, get on the mic.
- [22:43]
D
We'll keep that. We'll keep that topic in our back pocket.
- [22:47]
B
But anyway, we had. I had a big week last week, so that. That. So you have the flu, and I'm trying to host a party for 28 people, so that was a little stressful.
- [22:55]
D
Oh, I know. You haven't even told me about it because I have, like, not been in the. In a headspace to listen to it.
- [23:01]
B
My party, my little, like, girls night out. Girls night in Kelly's house was a 10 out of 10.
- [23:09]
D
Oh, good.
- [23:11]
B
Sat down to write my notes. I had very few. I had. Just repeat what you did last this year. Like, it just was flawless. My only note was I made too many versions of a margherita pizza, which, like, you have to have, like, a couple in case there's a picky eater in the bunch. But these girls were adventurous because I ran out of the fig and prosciutto so fast.
- [23:35]
C
Yeah.
- [23:35]
B
Like, I didn't even get a piece. So my note is. My only note was have, like, one margarita made. Everything else needs to be fig, prosciutto, like, something sassier, you know?
- [23:44]
D
Yeah. Yeah, that's good to know. That's how you know you've got good friends. I just love girls that are, like, down for a fig and prosciutto.
- [23:54]
B
That's what I'm saying. I also didn't. Didn't end up doing a specialty cocktail, and I didn't feel great about that decision, so I did put on my notes, too. I'm gonna ask somebody to, like, bring a specialty cocktail because, like, two of the girls who come are, like, very, like. Like, they're always the girls, like, bringing their, like, making fun drinks, you know? So I'm like, can you just bring the jingle jangle punch?
- [24:17]
C
Yeah.
- [24:17]
B
But we flew through Prosecco, flew through wine, flew through everything. Like, people had a lot of fun. I got so many nice texts afterwards being like, thank you so much. That was so much fun. I can't wait for next year. So that felt really good. The game was fun. One thing I did on the game for the rob your neighbor, which I feel like just kind of helped make everything go a little smoother, is I didn't do the whole hubbabaloo of like, oh, how many things do we have? Like, let me get everyone's number down. I had pre selected a seat that was just gonna start and we were gonna go clockwise. So, like, no one knew what the seat was. But like, everyone sat down and I was like, okay, Haley, you're in the seat that starts. We're going clockwise.
- [24:57]
E
Yeah.
- [24:57]
D
Good.
- [24:58]
B
And you know, that was just like easier than like, how many do I have? And then like, okay, who's 13? Like, and like people weren't paying attention. It kind of allowed like the section of the circle that was like going to pay attention. Like, then other people could kind of like not pay as close attention, you know?
- [25:11]
D
Yeah.
- [25:12]
B
So that was.
- [25:13]
C
That's a good idea.
- [25:14]
B
Yeah. That was like just easy. Yeah. I mean it was. It was a blast. Like, I just had a lot of fun.
- [25:21]
D
Good. I'm so glad to hear that.
- [25:23]
B
Yeah. You need to come one year. Would love to see you.
- [25:28]
C
Yeah.
- [25:29]
B
You missed the last two.
- [25:32]
D
I know, I know. I should come.
- [25:35]
B
You should come. You can bring a friend. It's. It's a. It's a fun. It's just so fun to. I've said this a hundred times. It was so fun to be out kind of dressed up, you know, like, this is not like everyone's wearing a heeled booty. You know, this is not. We're not. This is not. Come in your Christmas jammies. You know how I feel about those. This was. Come a little, Come a little. You know, it's the holidays and everyone came. Holidays.
- [25:58]
C
You know what?
- [25:58]
D
I'm so happy to hear that. Because my girls night, me and my girlfriends were so sick of dressing for the holidays. We said change of plans, leggings and sweatshirts to our dinner roll up. It was lovely. Well, that's the holidays. But also sometimes you're just sick of holidaying and you just.
- [26:20]
B
Well, and that's fine. But this was. This, this was a good time to be it. So that's what's been going on. And then from there it was just bus club, you know, it was Christmas party, Christmas lights, hot cocoa. This like to be a mom with a grade school age child in the month of December. I only have. I have one in grade school, but like two at school. I can't imagine logistically when they're all four in grade school, like, I don't know what I'm gonna do. It's gonna be a logistical nightmare. Everyone needs a present. Everyone has a spirit day. Everyone has a project, Everyone has a party. I'm exhausted. I'm exhausted from it.
- [26:58]
D
What I've learned. Yeah, that sounds. That sounds tough. You said this before on the holidays to not delay the joy, because I had. I had grand plans for Christmas lights. I had grand plans for things, and then the flu the week before Christmas knocked us out. And I'm like, okay, well, now Christmas is in two days. Yeah. Yeah, we haven't done any of the things. Now my saving grace a little bit is like, my kids are so young. So A, it doesn't matter, and B, like, we can go look at Christmas lights after Christmas. It's fine. But, yeah, you know, you. You never know how. Really, in December, you never know how long you're going to have. You never know.
- [27:39]
B
No, I agree.
- [27:41]
D
If an illness is going to take you out. And so just don't delay the joys is my. Is my big note for the year. And wash your hands constantly. I know where I got it from. Maddie and I went to the bank to finally combine our bank accounts and the woman who's our teller or whatever, the woman who's doing the things, channeling my cards, my id, all my stuff, and she's coughing, and I'm like, don't love that. And she goes, oh, don't worry, it's just allergies. And I'm like, who the heck has allergies in December? So I'm blaming her. So, yeah, I'll just do things. I'll do things differently next year.
- [28:27]
B
Well, it does sound like that tracks, but sounds like the bank should offer sick time.
- [28:36]
D
Yeah. And obviously.
- [28:40]
B
And that's what I'll say on that.
- [28:42]
D
I agree.
- [28:43]
B
It's big corporations keeping us sick. So anyway, yeah, so when we're recording this, it's Monday. We've got Christmas Eve coming up. I am so excited to give my kids their Christmas presents. This is like, one of the first. Well, Hattie's getting a gymnastics bar, which I think she's just going to. I think all of my kids are going to freak about it. Like, I'm so excited because we've gone to a couple friends houses who have had it, and I don't think she's expecting it at all because she's only asked for Barbies for Christmas, so she's not expecting it. So I'm very, very Excited for her. Fred is in the age where he just likes a present. Like, whatever Fred gets for Christmas. Like, it's the coolest thing. So we had Tyler's mom's Christmas this past weekend was such a fun day. And she's very good at giving kids, like, unexpected gifts. So she got Fred a pair of handcuffs. She got Fred a pair of handcuffs and, like, a magnifying glass. Like, a big one. Like, not, like, a cheap plastic one. Thrilled. The kid is thrilled. They are his favorite treasures. Like, he's so obsessed with them. And we've just been getting, like, so much, like, trash and trinkets, like, throughout this last week. It's been exhausting. And I just want to say, like, my MVP of the week has been clear totes with small clear totes with a lid on them. I had some in my basement. I gave the three bigs their own small, clear tote with a lid on it. I said, these are your treasure boxes.
- [30:20]
C
Oh, love it.
- [30:22]
B
So, like, if I find your trash and trinket on the ground, it's in your treasure box or it's in the trash. Like, these are. These are, like, things that don't. Like, they don't have a home. Like, what do I do with, like, the Christmas pen that came home or, like, you know, like, the stupid. The stupid crap that they've been getting. But then some cool stuff, too. So George got that. Barb gave George. Sorry. Fred got that. Barb gave George his big present was a metal detector, which is so fun for George.
- [30:50]
D
Oh, fun for George.
- [30:51]
B
Like, that's the perfect gift. And then she also found. She goes, like, shopping in her basement a lot. Barb holds on to things. And she gave George a piece of a music box that plays Amazing Grace. It's like a metal thing. It's, like. Would be inside a jewelry box from, like, the freaking, like, 40s. Like, where did she get this from? And he spins it, and it plays Amazing Grace. Like, the coolest thing in the world.
- [31:14]
D
Yeah.
- [31:16]
B
And then she got Hattie a set of pink tools in a toolbox so she can go help her dad up at the barn.
- [31:24]
D
Barb just really. There are some people who just get kids. She just gets them.
- [31:32]
B
She understands that. Totally. Get some. And she's so, like, something like, I wish I could. One of the ways I wish I could be more like her and that I'm gonna work on, especially in the new year, is, like, the. It's. It's almost to her fault. Like, the world could be burning down around her. And, like, If Hattie, you know, wants to take a bath, she'll be like, yes. And she will, like, drop what she's doing, go to the bath and get Hattie, like, fancy bath salts or like, fancy, like, soap. Get her a special towel, get her special toys. And it's like, oh, my gosh. Like, she just will stop what she's doing. Like, she will just make like that moment so special for my kids. I feel like I'm not even explaining it well. I can't really even put it into words, but, like, instead of, like getting overwhelmed with all of it's to do, she just, like, redirects her attention and she just like, whatever need that they want, she, like, will not only meet it, but, like, she will exceed it. Like, it's the craziest thing. And I'm over here. Like, Barb, you can finish the dishes or like, you can finish getting, like, get dinner together. Barb, she does not need to take a bath right now at your house. Like, it's okay. But like, to her, she's like, no, we're doing this.
- [32:40]
D
She's an acts of service person. 100%.
- [32:42]
B
100%. She. Yes, 100%.
- [32:47]
D
What do you think their love language is?
- [32:50]
B
Words of affirmation.
- [32:52]
C
Yeah.
- [32:53]
B
What's yours?
- [32:56]
D
Probably words of affirmation as well.
- [32:59]
B
Yeah.
- [33:01]
D
Yeah.
- [33:02]
B
I feel like people who say gifts, like, that's so crazy. Don't like that.
- [33:06]
D
Yeah, I think. I think gifts. I think no one wants to admit gifts because it sounds crazy, but I also think, like, I get it though. It's like a gift could be like flowers, and to them, it's like you stopped and you thought of me and you got me this flower or you saw this candy bar that I like. Like, it's not always like, oh, I got you a diamond necklace. It's like I went out of my way and I got this for you. And that's how I'm showing you love. Like, that's.
- [33:30]
B
Yeah.
- [33:31]
D
I think people are so misunderstood and get such a bad rap when it's like they just like to be known that they were thought of.
- [33:37]
B
I think some gift people feel that way.
- [33:39]
D
I have a little bit of gift in me, but also that it's mostly not.
- [33:44]
B
See, I feel like I am almost the opposite of like, I don't like receiving gifts all that much, mainly because I am the world's worst gift giver.
- [33:58]
C
Yeah.
- [33:59]
B
To my children. Absolutely not. Like, my kids are the only people that I feel like I know and can buy gifts that they really like. I don't know why. Luckily, I'm okay. Luckily, I'm good at giving my kids gifts. Like, I always know what they're gonna love. But, like, I had to buy. Last year, I had to buy Elizabeth the 30th birthday present. I. Nothing. Absolutely. Like, I struggled with it. I ended up buying. I'm not even proud of it. I bought her, like, a nice American flag sweatshirt, but, like, sweater. Sweater. Yeah. I mean, it was a nice sweater. Like, it was, like, 200 sweater, but, like, that's the best I could come up with. Like, a flipping sweater. Like, you're my sister. You're my business partner. You're my best friend in this entire world. I hate giving gifts because my brain just. I am a thoughtful person. I know I am. But for whatever reason, with gifts, it's like, you would think I don't know you at all.
- [34:49]
C
Yeah.
- [34:50]
B
Like, I have Charlotte for Secret Santa, and it's stupid. Like, I might as well just hand her 50 bucks because, like, I don't. I am so bad at that.
- [35:00]
F
Yeah.
- [35:02]
C
Yeah.
- [35:03]
D
I don't like it. I don't like giving gifts. Yeah, I don't like it.
- [35:09]
B
Well, anyway, like I said, I'm excited for. To give my kids their Christmas presents. I'm excited for Christmas, and then I'm excited to move on from Christmas.
- [35:18]
D
Yeah.
- [35:19]
B
And I'm ready for 2026. We'll need to do an episode. Maybe our next episode can be, like, kind of like, 2025 at a glance and, like, 2026 goals. Have you thought of your word of the year yet?
- [35:28]
D
You know what I. I did the other day, and I. I need to remember what it was because I wanted to talk about this on the podcast. Oh, I do. I do know. I don't have a word yet, but.
- [35:43]
B
I have a vibe.
- [35:43]
C
I need to.
- [35:44]
D
I need to narrow it down to. To a word.
- [35:46]
B
Do you want to tell me?
- [35:48]
D
Well, here's my thing. I feel like since I married Maddie and I so just said, just in general, I. I'm not a very patient person. I'm always looking towards the next thing, and I do things very quickly just in my life. I eat quickly.
- [36:04]
C
I. I shower quickly.
- [36:06]
D
I just. I do things quickly.
- [36:08]
C
I don't live in the moment, and.
- [36:09]
D
I'm not very patient, and I think that has dropped me in. You know, I had kids 15 months apart. I moved. We moved homes after being there for only two years. I moved into my new house, and I was like, I want to renovate.
- [36:25]
C
Within a year of living here.
- [36:28]
D
And I just feel like this constant, like, chasing or moving on to the next part of my. My life has felt has kind of left me in kind of this rushed state. And the last few weeks of, like, I'm really getting the hang of the. The two kids and, like, I'm baking, and I'm just, like. I'm kind of giving more space for time of other things instead of just looking towards the next thing. I'm like. I feel like I'm succeeding at things. And for the past few years, I feel like I've just been trying to keep up and just, like, put. Keep my head around above water because I keep putting new challenges in my way, and I just kind of want to slow down a little bit.
- [37:12]
B
Okay.
- [37:13]
D
And, like, be okay with where I'm. Where I'm at right now.
- [37:20]
B
All right, then I think that's a good one.
- [37:21]
D
Yeah. So maybe slow down.
- [37:24]
B
Okay. I don't have mine yet. I'm not. I'm not ready.
- [37:29]
D
Okay.
- [37:29]
B
But we do kind of have to run because we still have meetings today. Biebs. So I'm gonna give everyone the quick little hit of industry news, and then we're gonna. We gotta skedaddle.
- [37:37]
D
Okay. I do have a. I do have a digital drive through.
- [37:39]
B
Okay, good. So hold on. I gotta find. My story's not pulled up. Okay, so now it's time for industry news, where I spill the hot tea going on in the auto industry. Volkswagen cancels the ID buzz for 2026, but promises it will be back.
- [37:58]
E
Oh.
- [37:59]
B
The production of the electric van will skip the 2026 model year. Following the ID buzz. Merging sales and shrinking. Sorry. Meager sales and shrinking EV market. The ID Buzz will skip the 26 mile a year. The automaker confirmed the ID Buzz is not dead. Volkswagen insists with the break instead allowing the company to repair the transition for the 2027 model. Volkswagen had sold just 4,900, 134 of the units of the ID Buzz this year and through the third quarter of 2025. I really don't think they'll bring it back.
- [38:35]
D
I don't think they will.
- [38:36]
B
It's a stupid. I'm sorry. It's a stupid car. Like, it's so niche. It was all electric. It's for such a. It's for the wrong market. Like, it's not. It's not an everyday family car.
- [38:49]
D
No.
- [38:50]
B
And that they had that horrible recall in the third row.
- [38:53]
C
Yeah.
- [38:55]
D
That sucks. I just started to see them on the road, too.
- [39:01]
B
Yeah.
- [39:05]
D
You know, I kind of thought, like, that that this was gonna Kind of be like the cybertruck or the cybertruck was gonna kind of be like this. I see cybertrucks freaking everywhere. You do not see ID buzzes anywhere.
- [39:14]
E
It's just.
- [39:15]
D
It's a bad.
- [39:16]
C
It's bad.
- [39:16]
D
I would have the option to drive one as a demo technically, because our family owns a Volkswagen dealership. Wouldn't consider it. And I love a minivan. Would not consider it.
- [39:27]
B
Yeah. It's just a little much. It's a little much.
- [39:30]
E
Good.
- [39:32]
B
That's your industry news. I don't know if anyone's surprised. We'll see what. We'll see what 27 brings, but maybe they'll bring it back and put a gap and put an engine in it. I don't know.
- [39:41]
D
Volkswagen, just bring us in on it. Like, maybe we can help salvage it. If, like, you're trying to market it towards families. Like, maybe we can try and salvage it. Yeah, bring us in.
- [39:51]
B
Bring us in.
- [39:52]
D
Okay, Quick ditch the drive through. This is a reminder to you that pigs in a blanket is something you can serve your family for dinner.
- [40:02]
B
Yeah, totally.
- [40:04]
D
I made pigs in a blanket the other night.
- [40:06]
B
You also don't always have to do the little smokies. You can just wrap a hot dog in a crescent roll and serve that. I've been there before.
- [40:12]
C
Yeah.
- [40:13]
D
So that's just a friendly. That's just. That's it. That's just your reminder. Pigs in a blanket can be dinner.
- [40:21]
B
Well, and we. We might need easy dinners tonight. I am today going to be prepping my. My chuck roast for sassy ramen bowls on Christmas day.
- [40:29]
D
Love it.
- [40:29]
B
Excited about. Did an instacart order. I saw the funniest reel and it was like, this week is only for the professional shoppers in the grocery store. Like, do not send your husband. Do not bring your children in the grocery store. Like, let us get in and get out.
- [40:45]
D
Yeah, get out of my way.
- [40:46]
B
Yeah, get out of my way. And like, it's just. It's not the time to send your husband to mess up the grocery order. She'll call you a hundred times, like, this is. This is our Super Bowl.
- [40:54]
D
Yeah.
- [40:55]
B
I will have to make a pit stop tomorrow. I'm so excited because George and Hattie, I found this, like, a art camp in our town. It's three hours. It's a. It's a three hour drop off and they, like, make three crafts. I'm like, perfect. So I'm gonna be taking the. The bigs to that tomorrow and I'm gonna hit some last minute stores.
- [41:14]
D
Love it.
- [41:15]
B
On the 23rd.
- [41:16]
D
Love it.
- [41:17]
B
I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.
- [41:19]
D
You. You've got them.
- [41:20]
B
And that's our episode, which wasn't great, but it was an episode on Christmas Eve, and for that, hopefully you guys are happy.
- [41:28]
D
Thank you so much for listening to this chaotic episode of the Carpool Podcast, and we'll talk to you next time.
- [41:34]
B
See ya.
- [41:36]
A
Thank you for listening to the Carpool Podcast with Kelly and Liz. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed riding with us, tell everybody you know there's room in the car for everyone.