Thursday, March 14th, 2007 -- Chores

Dear Bloggy,

Well, just a quickie catch up since it is now almost 1:30am Saturday and I still haven't put in an entry for Thurs or Friday. Thursday was supposed to be a day to catch up on errands and chores. I did get some done... like going to the post office (finally, I have stamps on hand for mailing out forms!), picked up some fruit at Kin's Market up Davie, and then walked home. In the afternoon, I took Bridget for a walk, but only for a 1 mile walk because I was meeting Nancie for dinner on Robson Street and I was going to be walking there to meet her at 5pm.

Nancie and I went to Hon's for Chinese food. They make the best Chinese food in the West End! Here are pictures I took... hard to believe it's still so chilly... it looks like Spring is here and it should be warm!

Anywho... here are some pictures... one of Nancie, one of me in my blue hat that I picked up this week at Granville Island with Bonnie, a picture of a Cherry Blossom tree at night with a street light above it, and a picture of a West End street that is all in blossom :)

Well, I have more to add to the blog but it is going on 2am now, so I will blog more tomorrow, which will explain why I got home close to 1am Friday night (well, Sat. morning).

Sweet dreams!

Cheryl

Tuesday, March 13th, 2007 - Scrapbooking!

Dear Bloggy,

Oh, what a fun two days we've had so far! My online friend, Bonnie from Seattle, arrived in Vancouver yesterday, almost at noon on the dot! She has come up to show me how to do some scrapbooking techniques and basically give me the basics of how to start organizing my kajillions of photos I've taken over the years and put them together on fun, customized scrapbook pages. But FIRST, we had to go shopping to start collecting supplies! Monday was a "Scrapbook Shopping" day and oh-my-goodnes but this could get downright addictive and EXPENSIVE!! (grin) Just when you think that all you need is some paper, a few ribbons, glitter, etc... voila! There are a kajillion other things you need. The child in me LOVES paper, glitter, and creative tools, so I can see where I am going to have many, many entertaining hours. I was looking for a hobby of some sort that I could do at home because I really have no idea how many days there may be that I don't have my usual energy. If I do have to stay at home, then I certainly will need something to keep my mind and hands active... and this looks like my cup of tea!

Oh, but I'm ahead of myself! Bloggy, meet Bonnie :) I took this picture when we went to Granville Island to look at supplies. We had a very successful shopping day!



And here is a picture that Bonnie took of me! It was windy, which explains why both of our hair was blowing around. And yes, the sun was in our eyes but hey, look at the sky behind us! It ended up being a gorgeous day, considering all the rain we had the few days before this.












Hahaha - here are the two scrapbooking chicks!! Ok, ok, so maybe we weren't in a scrapbooking supply store, but we stumbled across this way kewl little hat store on the Island. It was sooooo neat! Just a little store tucked away with every kind of hat! Here we are modeling two hats (no, we didn't buy them), but I did end up buying two hats that may come in handy :)



Ahhh... the Pilates Goose! This goose cracked us up! It looked like she was doing Tai Chi or Pilates, balancing on one leg while contemplating the meaning of life. Then we got to thinking that maybe her leg was broken and she had been standing on her one leg on that beam for 6 weeks! Maybe she needed rescuing! Maybe... then she put her foot down and walked back along the beam to dry land... oh well :)

So, that was yesterday. We brought home all our packages of papers, tools, adhesives, etc. We took Bridget for a walkie, fed her, hung around for a bit, then went to Milestones for dinner. A full, but happy day! And I don't think we stopped chattering all day (grin)

Today, we were bound and determined to take Bridget to Second Beach for her morning walkie. I want to make sure that she gets her exercise and stimulation in, which, in turn makes sure that I get my fresh air and exercise in too. So Bonnie and I took Bridget on a jaunt to Second Beach in Stanley Park. Hahahaha... poor Bridget looked like a drowned rat and it doesn't help that she has not had her grooming yet! I'm waiting for the weather to warm up before she gets her short haircut.

Hahaha... not the best morning to go walking! Not only had it already started raining when we started out about 9am, it was cold out! The rain did sort of stop at one point, long enough that we got to Second Beach (about 1 mile from home), but when we headed back, the rain started again, then the hail started! OUCH!! OUCH!! Time to dry off, towel down the dog, change into a dry coat, and then head out to breakfast. After that, we came home and spent the day playing with scrapbooking stuff.



This is my very first scrapbook page that I created by figuring out a colour scheme that goes together, then the layout. The photo is a picture of Bridget taken in the summer awhile back, so the little brown tag gives a description of the photo.

Hahahaha... this is just ONE picture and it was today's project! So, considering I have years of photos, well, you can just imagine how many hours of scrapbooking I have ahead of me to preserve my photos. Tomorrow (Wed), we have to go get some bloodwork done, then Bonnie is going to show me how to do scrapbooking online on the computer.

Ahhhhhh... it is now the pumpkin hour (midnight), so time for me to get to bed. Another busy, full day ahead tomorrow. Let's hope I don't forget to get that bloodwork done since Dr. Gill will need the blood work results for Friday afternoon (grin).

Ciao!

Cheryl

Monday, March 12th - morning

Dear Bloggy,

Well, just a quickie post this morning because the next couple of days are probably going to be quite busy and I'm not sure if I'll get to the blog or not (watch, I'll end up posting lots of posts! hahahaha!).

Wow, yesterday Steve and I went to his parents for dinner and the rain was unbelievable!! We aren't just talking rain, but more like sheets of water. When we made it to Maple Ridge, we could see that there was going to be some problems with flooding because the ditches were alread overflowing up to the roads... and the fields looked like lakes. We had a great time with the family for birthday dinner.. total chaos with 7 adults and 3 kids, plus 1 dog and 8 rabbits (grin). I loved it! But coming home, what an adventure! We couldn't get out to the highway because all the roads to the highway were closed due to flooding. So we took the uh.. er.. scenic route. Yes, we did make it home, but it was definitely a roundabout way of getting there! LOL!

When I got home, there was an email waiting for me from Bonnie, my friend from Seattle who was going to take the Amtrak train up to Vancouver today to spend a few days here. Well, Amtrak called her to say the train was cancelled because of mudslides on the tracks (all this rain!!!). So, she is driving up instead. She just called me about half an hour ago to say that she has made it through the border and is on Canadian soil (grin). She should be arriving any time now.

She is going to show me how to scrapbook, both the traditional way with paper, stickers, fabric, etc. and the online way with software and my digital pictures. We are also going to make a tour of various scrapbooking stores, shopping in general and taking the dog out for walkies (thank goodness the rain has stopped and the sun is actually out today!)

Ok, on Wednesday we will also have to go to the medical lab on Burrard so they can take a kajillion vials of blood and do the bloodwork and have the results to my oncologist for our Friday visit. She needs to see the bloodwork results before chemo starts on Monday. This bloodwork will be the base foundation of what they will be comparing future blood work results too (white blood cell count, red blood cell count, etc).

So, I reckon we will have to throw some medical stuff in with the important stuff... like shopping and scrapbooking (grin). The only problem is Bonnie won't be up here long enough to get everything done that we want to do!! Hmmmm... this might mean she will have to come up for another trip in the near future (grin).

Ok, ta ta for now!

Cheryl

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - Chit Chat

Dear Blog,

Well, it does seem that I am slipping as I've noticed Tuesday was my last entry and it's now Saturday. Yikes! Where does the time go??

Let's see if I can remember back a few days... you know the memory is the first to go!! LOL! Wednesday was a shopping day... Mimi and I went out to Ikea in Richmond and (sigh) that's a very dangerous store!! I picked up some lovely cranberry material to make some new bedroom curtains. The curtains I had were a light, pale blue and, well, let's just say they had served their time. Also, because they were so light, it meant during the day the bedroom was always very bright. This normall is not a problem since I'd be at work and who spends time in the bedroom during the day, anyways?? But, I'm looking at the foreseeable future and IF I should need some quiet time for napping, then I would like one room in the apartment to be able to be darker and quiet... and that room will be the bedroom :) I also bought two gorgeous duvet covers with matching pillowcases. I don't know when I last bought a duvet cover, so the two or three I have are getting a little long in the tooth. It's soooo nice to have new ones... and soooo pretty!

Thursday, I had a meeting with some of the Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) gang. TUTS is going to be doing Oklahoma! and Grease this summer... and they have a new board and staff with lots of ideas. It could be just what TUTS has needed... energy and new blood.

Friday, Steve O. and I went out to Richmond to Chapters early before we went to a play that evening. Oh oh.. more shopping! Thank goodness I had some gift certificates that I had received at Christmas, but even so, I spent more money that I really meant to. I am reading a terrific book right now... "At Home in Mitford" by Jan Karon. It is the first in a series of about 6 books, so I picked up the second and third one, as well as one of the Shopaholic books by Sophia Kinsella. Hahaha... I still have books that I had bought before going into the hospital that I haven't read, so now I have LOTS of reading material that should keep me going for a few months!! I also picked up two kits of lovely scrapbooking paper... even though I promised myself I wouldn't by any scrapbooking supplies until my friend, Bonnie, comes up here on Monday from Seattle. Hahaha... and I picked up more Suduko... just to drive myself crazy.

After doing sufficient damage at Chapters (Steve got away with buying only two books, but he had been at Chapters earlier in the week so that all counts as sufficient damage too), we then headed out to Cambie Secondary High School. The drama department, headed by our friend Patty Silver, was putting on the show "The Dining Room". It was directed by another friend (our friendship goes way back to high school), Karen Kelm. The play is a fabulous script! There are approx. 60 characters in it which makes it a really good script for a high school production, but it normally would be cast with 3 females and 3 males and they would do all the parts. After the play, we went out for something to eat, just like the old days!

Today, the weather people, unfortunately, were accurate with their forecast. RAIN!! But Bridget and I managed to get out on our morning walkies before the monsoons hit. We got a nice 2 mile walk in... we walked to Second Beach in Stanley Park and back. It was wonderful because there were not that many people out and about at that time of the morning and because of the threatening weather. We got about 2 blocks from home and it started to rain. Talk about good timing! It has been raining ever since. This afternoon I went to the seamstress and picked up my new bedroom curtains (yes, I took the lazy way out and had her cut and hem them) ... then came home and hung them... all by myself!! I was going to get Mimi to come down and help since it meant standing on the bed to hang them and my balance isn't the best.. but I got going and managed to take the old blue ones down and then got the new cranberry ones put up.

I've been puttering about in the apartment ever since and am thinking of heading to bed soon. But first... time to change all the clocks to an hour ahead! Don't forget... Daylight Savings Time hits at 2am :)

Tomorrow, Steve, Jo and I will be heading out to his parents' in Maple Ridge for Turkey Dinner!! It is the March birthdays for their family so big family din-dins! Now let's just hope this rain stops!


Cheryl

Tuesday, March 6, 2007 -- Colonoscopy

Dear Bloggy,

Yes, today was the day... the day of the dreaded colonoscopy. Not only was I a tad bit anxious because of the past two experiences with the sigmoidoscopies (read: PAIN during the prepping and PAIN during the procedures... not to mention after the second one, that's when there was the start of the strong suspicion of cancer), but this would be the first full colonoscopy that I had and it would reveal if there were any more tumours throughout the intestine and/or polyps (pre-cancerous growths). Now, I have been putting my power of thought and visualization to work since we found out that I DID have that large cancerous tumour and kept visualizing and thinking that once Dr. Brown did the surgery, then there was no doubt in my mind that he got the nasty cancer and the rest of my intestine would prove to be clear, fine, and healthy. Of course, we had to wait at least 8 weeks from the surgery before we could do this procedure because the surgical area needed a good headstart on healing... hence, we had it scheduled for today.

Well, for starters, the prep of drinking the phosphate soda last night was not nearly as traumatic as it had been the last two times. No pain, no fuss, nothing. I was just fine... sure makes a huge difference not having a tumour and infection in your intestine to make things difficult :) The worst part of the prep is having to be on a clear liquid diet, no solid food. I didn't notice that as being a problem last time, but then I wasn't eating at the time. Now I'm back to having a healthy appetite, so going without food is hard!

It was a gorgeous, sunny, warm day today, but I decided to play it safe and took the bus up the hill 9 blocks to the hospital. Normally, I would walk it, but after having had the phosphate soda last night and this morning, I decided not to push it (grin). That's all I'd need is to be 5 blocks from the hospital with no loo in sight and that's when I'd need one (grin).

They were running a tad bit behind time, so luckily I brought a book with me. I was content to sit in the waiting room with my book and while away the time. I was still feeling great... totally different from the last two times I was there. Those times, I was in so much pain, was dehydrated and by then, malnutritioned.

Finally they call my name and in I go to get changed, then the nurse took me to the room. She was busy trying to find a vein for my IV, when Dr. Brown came in. Have I mentioned how much of a hero this man is to me?? He is not like any other surgeon I've ever met... other surgeons have been good at their job but have absolutely no bedside manner, which can really make a patient feel uncomfortable. Dr. Brown was genuinely happy to see me again and couldn't get over how good I looked, my colouring, and overall signs of health. He then checked my surgical incision and said that he was super pleased with how well it is now healing. He told me not to worry... that stubborn two inches that has done a lot better but still isn't closed up yet, not only will it close up nicely, but with time it will end up being a very thin scar (hahaha... as if I am ever going to be wearing a bikini or anything to show off my gut!) LOL!!!

He had such a big smile on his face and told me that, without a doubt, I'm the strongest/toughest woman he has ever met to have overcome the pain, surgery and complications I had thrown at me... and my attitude was beyond anything he ever expected from a patient who has gone through what I went through (do you see why I love this man??) He said that he wasn't sure I realized just how sick I was back in December, that even he was surprised at how large the tumour was and that I was still walking and functioning. I questioned that the surgery was longer than he had planned, wasn't it, and he said "Oh yes... much longer! There were some challenges that we hadn't counted on and we certainly put you through the wringer." Hahaha... I told him I had thought so because I can really remember the agony I felt when I woke up in recovery... and then the next day. He apologized and said he was concerned about that, but that I did handle it like a champ... and blew the whole team away when I was up and walking within 48 hours of the surgery and able to go home a week after the surgery. He thought I might be at the hospital for 3-4 weeks after the surgery. Now, seeing me walk in, even though it is two months later, he says I'm a whole different person from the person he met when I was so deathly ill. I asked about a few pains I feel now and again deep inside my gut and if those are normal for this long after surgery and he said that he's amazed I don't feel more... that it will take some months for the insides to heal totally... so that was reassuring.

Anywho... once the nurse finally got the IV in (it was being difficult of course), our little chit chat had to change to the procedure at hand. I asked if there'd be some sort of sedation... after all, it's not like I invite pain or discomfort. And he said of course... and put two syringes of meds into the IV. Ha! Here I thought I was going to get a free trip to lala-land, compliments of the government... but darn ding it... just like when I had the PortaCath put in, the sedation did absolutely nothing for me (grin). I wasn't anxious so maybe it helped there, but while I was talking with Dr. Brown any anxiety went away anyways... so, yes, I was wide, wide awake and totally coherent for the whole procedure.

Well, I guess that's a good thing because I got to see the whole thing for myself and ask questions. Not a polyp in sight... and not a tumour to be found!!! YAYAYAYAYA!!! The whole large intestine was totally clear and all healthy tissue!! This is the big relief I have been waiting for... and what I've been visualizing since I was told I had cancer. I know a lot of you out there have been praying and visualizing the same thing and this just goes to show it does work!

After the procedure, I had to go back to the "recovery" room... normally it would be the assistant nurse who would roll the bed from the scopy room to the recovery room where the nurses' station is. But, I had my own personal chauffeur, Dr. Brown! We had a good laugh over that. I thanked him for all he's done for me and he held my hand and said that it was his pleasure to help such a wonderful patient and he'd be more than happy to do any of my followup work. I won't need a colonoscopy for 3 years now (yayayayaya) but will need a smaller procedure in 6 months. Where the intestine was rejoined is a vulnerable area with this kind of cancer. If it is going to recur, then this would be a high risk area, so he will check it in 6 months (and probably every 6 months for a few years). We had a good chuckle over, although it would be nice to see each other often, in reality, let's not plan on it!! LOL!!! I love a doctor with a great sense of humour!!

Anywho... all the other patients around me, who had the same procedure, really looked out of it. Some were still out of it, others were feeling sick, some moaning... one would almost think that we were in a sick ward or something!! The nurse came over to me and said, "Well, you are bright eyed and wide awake... did you have sedation for your procedure?" I said yes, but I don't think it took (grin). She said, "Oh well, policy is policy... you are going to have to stay in our care for half an hour for it to start wearing off, even though it looks like you haven't had any, and then you can have a snack before you can go home. Do you have someone coming to pick you up?" I told her that my friend, Mimi, would come, but that I told her someone or I would call her when I was ready to go. Mimi and I had already decided that she would walk up since it was a beautiful day and then we'd take a cab home. This was when I thought I'd be groggy and out of it. Ha!! I was totally fine... and it was so mild outside, when Mimi got there, the two of us walked home. I laughed and told her that, just like after the PortaCath insertion, I thought I could drive myself home and now after this procedure, I could definitely have walked home on my own. I just don't seem to be able to respond to drugs/meds the way others do (grin).

Anywho... I'm home now and have been since about 3pm. I cancelled my neighbours taking Bridget out for her afternoon walkie, because I was doing just fine. I told them that I'm not going to abuse the privilege and I'm sure there will be many days in the future when I might need their Bridget walkie help... so I took the little Diva myself.

Now, tonight is a night of American Idol and House... and I can enjoy them knowing that I'm off to a good start before we start the chemo and radiation therapies. The way I am looking at it... if I am just not responding to meds like the "average expectation" I visualize being the same with the chemo and radiation. Oh sure, I'm not being unrealistic... there will be some rough days but I plan on there being way more GOOD days than bad days. I just refuse to be one of the average stats :)

Cheryl

Monday, March 5th, 2007 - Broken Loo

Dear Bloggy,

It's Monday... the beginning of a new week! Well, I've alwys considered Monday to be the beginning of the week but is it? Or is Sunday the beginning of a week? Such a deep thought to contemplate (grin). I leave it with you, the reader to determine what is really the first day of the week and why you think so :)

Hahaha... well, this is kind of a funny story, but only funny in hindsight (grin). This morning, my toilet, the loo, decided to go on the fritz! Now, that is not a world disaster by any stretch of the imagination, so how do you think I'm going to make you believe that this is such a monumental event?? Welllll... let's just put it this way. Tomorrow (Tuesday), I have to go to St. Paul's Hospital for a colonoscopy... today is the prep day which means I am on a clear liquid diet all day (let me tell you, this is NOT as easy as it was before when I had no appetite!) and then this evening I do the intestinal cleanse. Does it now make sense why I need to be near a working loo tonight??? (grin)

Soooo... I call the landlord, but first I have to empty the bathroom vanity because it sits over top of the back of the loo, so it has to be emptied and then dismantled. Ron, the landlord, comes over to replace some kind of little pipe thingie that has rusted out... but finds he can't do it. Yikes! So he calls the plumber and we are told that they will try to get the plumber over today, but since they are really busy, it might not be until tomorrow. Uh.. but, but, but!!! (eeek!)

I do put my SECRET concept to work and I picture a plumber coming to the apartment today, either before I head out to my doctor's, or else after, when I get home. With that, I put on my coat, set up the walkman, grab my umbrella and I walk the 9 blocks to my doctor's. Today I get the staples removed from the PortaCath incision :)

It does feel good to get those staples out! It was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable because the skin was folded and stapled. But Dr. Fay is pleased with how well the incision has healed... no signs of wound issues at all :) We then discussed a few pains I've been feeling and he explained that with this surgery there are many, many layers that have to heal, so a sharp pain, especially when I do certain movements (like getting into bed, or into the car) is actually a good sign that the healing on the inside is doing just fine. Yayayaya!

I breathed a sigh of relief and told him that every now and again, when I get too much information from all the various specialists, I have to come see him so that he can reassure me that I'm just being paranoid. He gave me a big smile and said, "No problem! Anytime you need reassurance or an explanation of some procedure, you know where my door is."

EDIT: I forgot to finish the Loo story. When I got home from the doctor's, the plumber showed up about an hour later. He had some real problems getting the broken piece of pipe out and then decided that all of the innards (including the handle on the outside of the tank) had to be replaced. So I guess he was here close to 2 hours, but he got the loo fixed! Yayayayaya!! Alls well that ends well :)

Soooo, tomorrow is the colonoscopy that Dr. Brown (surgeon) will be doing. Let me tell you, I'll be real glad when this procedure is over and I'm at home! Hahaha.. first thing I'm going to do is eat something solid (grin)... and not a liquid beverage!! Mimi will be coming to the hospital to pick me up and we'll be coming straight home... in time for a nap and then getting ready to watch American Idol and House! (grin)

Talked to Steve tonight. His back has gone out on him, so luckily he doesn't have to work right now. I sure feel sorry for people who have bad backs, or back injuries. Back pain has got to be the worst!

Okey dokey... that's it for now! I'm not even sure what's on tv tonight... it may be a good night to just read!

Cheryl

Thursday, March 1, 2007 - CAT Scan day

Dear Thursday Blog,

Well, I guess I haven't been here for a few days... funny that, huh? And now I'm trying to remember what all I've accomplished or done over the last couple of days, but of course my mind is blank! :)

I do know that last night (Wed) I went out for dinner with 3 co-workers.. well, co-workers that all used to work together but now work for different areas in the government. We try to get together every couple of months and lately, it's been every couple of weeks (grin). It's great! We have so many laughs... and just when we think we've used up all the laughter we find something else to laugh at. Too bad I can't imbed a sound file in here... there's this ringtone sound clip that has us in stitches whenever we think of it! Anywho, the four of us went just down the street from my place to Milestones for dinner and had a wonderful time... one that we will repeat again ;)

Today (Thurs), I went to the Cancer Agency this morning to have a CAT scan done. This will be the "base" scan. From what I understand, over the course of the treatments I will be monitored with CAT scans and chest xrays. The reason being... if the cancer was to reappear, it would either recur where it originated, in the large intestine OR if it were to spread and start somewhere else, the two common areas are in the lung or the liver. Also, Dr. Brown had put clips in the abdominal wall where the tumour/abscess was attached, and that is where they will be focusing the radiation. So this base CAT scan will be used for a few reasons... and for a comparison for every future CAT scan.

It was great! Because of the snow we had last night/this morning, it was not busy at the CT Scan department. I got there early because I am always leary about what the parking will be like. No problem with parking in the parkade and no backlog of appts. There was one gal ahead of me and she was in getting her scan while the nurse was putting the IV in my arm for the scan dye. They can't use the PortaCath for dye... and I don't really think the PortaCath is quite ready to be used yet anyways (I still have the 8 staples holding the incision closed and there is still sufficient bruising, although it is starting to go away now). Hehehe... the nurse had to wrap my arm in a heating pad to coax the veins to the surface. She did manage to get one finally, so once the IV was in, I went in to have the scan done. That only took about 5 minutes, then they took the IV out and I was able to leave.

So... looking at my handy dandy date book, my next medical appt. is not until Monday... when I get to pop in to see my GP, Dr. Fay, who will take these 8 staples out. I'll be glad to get them out because I think they are ready :)

Oh, and I heard from my friend, Bonnie K. who lives in the Seattle area! We have been online friends for, gee, 4 years maybe?? Anywho, she is going to come up to Vancouver March 12-14th so we can hang out and catch up in person!! How fun is that??? And she is going to show me how to do some scrapbooking... both digital (on the computer) and the manual way... which means (grin) we are going to have to go SHOPPING!! How sad!! (NOT!) (grin)

I just have to jot down this Question/Answer part of an interview of Ellen Degeneres. I really admire that lady... her humour cracks me right up and, even more important, I like how she is just a really together lady who is so positive. Her outlook on life is fantastic and I never could quite pinpoint what it is that I admired so much, but it is how she views her life and life in general (and it doesn't hurt that she is a serial animal lover!) Anyone who is an animal lover has major brownie points in my books!! :)

Anywho, I just loved her answer to this question and it's how I try to see/live my life... but it's still a work in progress for me. The interviewer was talking to her about her hosting the Oscars. This interview took place before the Oscars, so the event had not happened yet. Here's one of the questions:

Question: Any good luck charm?

Answer: No, my good luck charm is my gratitude. Every night I go to sleep and I'm grateful for my life, and I wake up and I feel the same thing. I just accept everything as it is -- whatever happens is what I'm supposed to deal with.

What a wonderful attitude! To be grateful for everything in your life (which I feel I am) and when things are thrown at you that you weren't expecting, or that are challenging, then know in your heart it is being handed to you and you know you are suppose to deal with it.. it's all part of the experience of your life.

So, on that note, I will sign off. Tomorrow I will tackle another small corner of my apartment. Hahaha... I'm trying to get into "Spring Cleaning" mode but it's too overwhelming to think of doing the whole apartment... so I'm doing a corner at a time, a small area at a time and by the time Spring rolls around, I may actually have a good start on it!! LOL!!