OPTM PT December 2017

OPTM PT December 2017

Monthly AN ELF, CHICKEN PARM, AND BRUNCH FOR 30

WHY I LOVE CHRISTMAS

L ike I mentioned last month, my family’s Christmas season kicks off precisely the day after Thanksgiving, when we make our way into the Santa Cruz Mountains to cut down our Christmas tree. After that, the hustle and bustle kicks into high gear. We go all-out decorating the tree with ornaments and lights and covering the house in as much holiday cheer as possible. Then, like clockwork, we bring out the Elf on the Shelf — we’ve named him Hermie, after the worker elf in “Rudolph” — on Dec. 1. This is the same day we present new sets of holiday-themed pajamas to Owen and Jake. Every night, while the children are sleeping, the elf moves to a new perch around the house for them to find. Maybe he’s relaxing behind the TV, or flying high on the ceiling fan. I tell them he’s reporting directly to the big man, Santa, no matter his location, so they’d better make sure they’re not being naughty! You’d be amazed how much extra parenting help Hermie gives us during the month, and they love going on the hunt for him each morning.

some delicious sugar cookies several days before Christmas Eve. This year, they’ll have an additional little helper in the cookie crew as Jake will be 2 very soon. I’m excited to see how he embraces the holidays as he becomes more aware of them. On Christmas Eve, we make our way to St. Catherine’s church for evening Mass, which should be a really cool opportunity to see a few of Owen’s teachers and classmates, in addition to just being a fun celebration. He started attending kindergarten

at the church’s attached school this year. After church, we make chicken Parmesan with garlic mashed potatoes from a recipe I learned from my mom years ago. It’s the kind of delicious meal that’s so easy to prep it can’t possibly add any holiday stress. Then, the kids put out a few cookies and a glass of milk for Kris Kringle, set out a carrot for Rudolph, and head to bed. Christmas Day is, of course, for opening presents. I have to say, the holidays are a lot more fun when you’ve got small kids who are still gleeful about even the smallest of gifts energized by holiday spirit and anticipation. Once the wrapping paper has been shucked off every last box, and Owen, Jake and I have given my wife our annual team present — which they help me pick out — it’s brunch time. We go to my in-law’s place in Campbell and gather with almost all of my wife’s eight aunts and uncles and 33 cousins for a tasty breakfast buffet. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with these important people in our lives outside of Facebook, for a change. All in all, Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, almost entirely because of the time spent with my family and friends. My wife and I look forward to it practically the whole year long — though not nearly as much as Owen and Jake. Dr. Fabrice Rockich

For a couple years now, we’ve kept to a tradition where Owen teams up with his mom to make and decorate

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Have You Tried Physical Therapy for D I A B E T E S ?

“The staff at OPTM is first-rate! I had physical therapy for a problem with my hip. For months, I was in tremendous pain and falling down weekly before starting my physical therapy. The falls rapidly decreased and then stopped completely. It’s been several years now, and I have had no further problems with hip pain or falling. The exercises and skill of the staff are excellent. I highly recommend OPTM.” “I finally found a team of physical therapists who diagnosed me correctly after years of seeing probably about 20 different therapists. For the first time in eight-plus years, I now feel I can manage my degenerative disc condition on my own. I had to go back for my knees and saw results after the first two visits. Thank you to the whole staff. They’re very friendly and professional. An extra thanks to Robert and Fabrice!” Te s t i mo n i a l s Don’t Just Take Our Word For It –Gail J.

D iabetes is a condition in which either the body does not produce enough insulin, or the cells in the body do not react normally to insulin. When either of these conditions occur, it causes levels of glucose in the blood to become too high, which can lead to health problems. Physical activity and exercise are important and effective in lowering high blood glucose levels, and physical therapists can help people with diabetes improve or avoid related problems. They can also teach sedentary people how to increase their daily physical activity in safe, effective, and enjoyable ways. Individuals with diabetes are at risk of complications like heart disease, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, eye disease, kidney disease, nervous system disease, peripheral vascular disease, skin issues, cell death, amputations, and premature death. Once someone has been diagnosed by a physician, a physical therapist can evaluate their symptoms and the physical problems associated with the condition and provide individual, specialized treatments. Physical therapy for diabetes is meant to help those with the disease participate in safe, effective exercise programs to improve their ability to move, perform daily tasks, reduce pain, and lower blood glucose levels. After a physical therapist reviews an individual’s blood glucose record and examines them for skin wounds, the therapist will then conduct an assessment of the individual’s strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance. The physical therapist will then choose specific activities, treatments, exercises, and stretches to help restore normal movement, strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, coordination, pain levels, and healthy blood glucose levels. The therapist will also discuss activity goals and prescribe at-home exercises to speed up recovery. Diabetes is a condition with many serious complications. However, physical therapy can reduce those complications while simultaneously improving physical fitness and lowering blood glucose levels. Talk to your physical therapist about diabetes treatment today.

–Sonja B.

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Creative Gift Wrap Alternatives

There’s something magical about seeing a stack of presents wrapped in bright, multicolored paper. However, that enchanting scene quickly evaporates a few hours later when all those wads of wrapping paper and plastic bows are chucked unceremoniously into the garbage. What if we told you there are countless ways you can still enjoy wrapping and unwrapping presents, without all the waste? Here are a few creative gift wrap alternatives to consider this holiday season. BROWN PAPER BAGS With the holiday season comes holiday shopping, and if you opt out of plastic grocery bags, you’re sure to have a surplus of brown paper bags in the pantry. Drop a present into the bag, tape it shut, and you’re good to go. Add some simple lace or a ribbon for an old- timey feel or get creative with stamps and hand-drawn artwork. This wrap job lets your imagination run wild. OLD MAPS AND CALENDARS

soon. If you still have an old map, why not use that for wrapping? The unusual designs guarantee your gifts will be one of a kind. And don’t worry if there are notes scrawled across the paper. Old events or directions will add some unique flair to the presents. FUROSHIKI Fabric is an excellent substitute for wrapping paper. You can use a scarf to create two gifts in one or pull out scraps of fabric from old projects. The traditional Japanese practice of furoshiki is all about wrapping goods in fabric. Described as “functional fabric origami,” you’d be amazed at how a few well-placed folds can turn your gift into a work of art. Learn how to wrap anything, from boxes to bottles, at ceas.ku.edu/furoshiki-instructional-videos. You don’t have to follow the same gift wrap habits year after year. After the effort you put into finding just the right present, you should be able to make your gift wrap just as special. Find a method that’s uniquely you and get started!

These days, pretty much every phone has a built-in GPS, so you probably won’t need the map from your 1999 road trip anytime

PALEO

Star Cookies

TAKE A BREAK

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal) • ½ teaspoon Celtic sea salt • ¼ teaspoon baking soda • 1 teaspoon ground

cinnamon • ¼ cup coconut oil, melted • 5 tablespoons agave nectar or honey • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. 2. In a smaller bowl, mix together coconut oil, agave, and vanilla. 3. Mix wet ingredients into dry. 4. Roll out dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper until ¼ inch thick.

7. parchment paper and dust dough with almond flour. 8. Cut out cookies with a small star cutter. 9. Using a metal spatula, place stars on a parchment lined baking sheet. 10. Bake at 350 F until lightly browned around the edges, 5-8 minutes. 11. Cool completely prior to handling cookies.

5. Refrigerate for 1 hour. 6. Remove top piece of

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Learn About Our Family Christmas Page1

Physical Therapy for Diabetes Treatment Testimonials Page2

StopWastingGift Wrap! Star Cookies Page3

Kick Off the New Year in theMagic Kingdom Page4

Is January the Best Month for Disney land? January isn’t known for much — broken resolutions and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, mostly. But if you’re looking to escape the cold or take your family on a post-holiday adventure, next month might be the best time to travel to the Happiest Place on Earth. According to Disneyland’s own figures, the first full week of January through the middle of February is the slowest time of year at the park. Visitors report never spending more than 15 minutes waiting for a ride. The Fourth of July, however, finds visitors waiting over two hours for Star Tours and Splash Mountain. In Winter, Disneyland closes a little earlier. But if you have young kids, this won’t affect your plans much. They often close rides for maintenance during this time, but never more than one or two at a time. With all the open options, you won’t feel robbed. The Best Crowds

Check weather reports since the rainfall varies greatly depending on the temperature of the ocean that month. But bear in mind, Disneyland is the No. 2 theme park on the planet, raking in 18 million visitors a year. It wouldn’t attract such huge crowds if the weather wasn’t theme park-worthy 99 percent of the time. So, what’s the best month to visit Disneyland? It’s a trick question. The real answer is whatever month you go . Disneyland is magic! But if there’s a month that’s better than the rest, we’ll say it’s January.

Let’s Talk About the Weather

Does January sound cold and rainy? Don’t worry. The average temperature is still a balmy 66 degrees, and January gets just as much rainfall as peak months like December (winter break) and March (spring break).

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