Now if you decide to get someone any sort of exercise equipment, like ellipticals, for a gift (for Christmas or a birthday or for Arbor Day) you have to make super sure of a couple of things. First, did your friend or relative ask for exercise equipment? If the answer is yes, then go ahead with your plan to purchase said equipment. Second, what will the recipient’s first reaction be? If you believe it will be, “Awesome, just what I wanted,” then go ahead. If there is any chance at all that the reaction will be, “So you’re saying I’m fat,” then you may want to reconsider your gift idea.

With more and more people complaining of foot pain (and with the holidays approaching), you should be thinking of getting some sort of foot care products for anyone on your list with foot pain. If you know someone suffering from Plantar Fasciitis, then there are a number of splints or wraps or other pain-relieving foot accessories to help with the condition. Don’t forget that losing weight and exercising are also key to solving the problem.

Cerebral Palsy is an incurable form of brain damage that usually occurs in young children. People with CP may have learning disabilities but are no less intelligent than those without the condition. Cerebral palsy damages the parts of the brain that control movement. These may lead to difficulty in people expressing themselves but may not affect their underlying intelligence. There are many treatment options available for those with cerebral palsy to live more functionally.

My oldest recently had to go for stitches. He slipped in the shower while trying to wash his foot and somehow split open the underside of his jaw. The doctor described it as a ‘meaty’ wound and he got 6 stitches. I came running from my room when I hear him howling. My first thought was that he had turned on the hot water and was burning himself and was in too much pain to think of getting out of the water. Instead I found the water cool and a line of blood from his chin to his toes.

The bleeding stopped very easily but one clear look and it was obvious stitches were needed (if the blood hadn’t already convinced me). The cut was gaping and from the front you could actually see the skin hanging down a little bit. My husband was out with the car so we had to wait around for him to come back. I told my fellow that he shouldn’t talk so he wouldn’t accidentally start the bleeding back up and told him he’d need stitches. Fortunately he can write so he started asking questions and his first was, “Will I die?” (Doesn’t that just tear at your heart strings?) He’d seen the blood and figured the jig was up.

Happily he believed me when I said no and went on to ask, “Will I get ice cream?”

There’s nothing quite like a kid who’s got his priorities straight.