What I came here to tell you though is that as you know from my post a few days ago; I have been one of the lucky statistics to succumb to the H1N1 virus and I am here to tell you that it is NOT fun.  Two other friends of mine that I know of (and there could be more that just don’t know they have it yet) have also had the pleasures of dealing with it as well and they will tell you too that it is nothing close to pleasant; in fact it is the absolute extreme opposite.

Because I know there are an incredible amount of people out there that just think they have a sinus infection or a cold when really, they have the H1N1.  I KNOW there are more than a fair amount of people out there thinking that, because I was one of them and I’ll be completely honest when I say that.  In order to try to help a few others out there that think they may have it, don’t think they have it, or don’t think it is anything serious…. let me just tell you the following:

1. Monday evening, October 5th, I started getting what I thought was a cold/sinus infection.  I got home from work that Monday and a severe sore throat had developed within a few hours.  Then I had the headache, neckache, stuffy/runny nose (you know, one of each in each nostril), a few body aches, the jaw ache, the cheek bone pain, etc.  All classic symptoms of sinusitis and/or regular cold/sinus infection symptoms.  Heck, why would I think any different?

Due to those symptoms on Monday night, I took some meds and went to sleep only to not barely be able to sleep because my throat hurt so bad and my sinuses had went from semi blocked to full force can’t barely breath blocked.  I had my cousin’s wedding on that Friday the 9th and I was her personal attendant, and I decided that I was NOT going to be sick for this.  She was in my wedding last year and I owed that to her to be there for her and I was not going to ditch out on her 4 days before her wedding.  Due to that, I called my supervisor early Tuesday morning and said I would not be in that day since I for one was feeling horrible (I thought) and for two I wanted to try to nip it in the butt before Friday.  I went back to bed that Tuesday morning, and slept straight through until 2:15pm.  I got 14-15 hours of sleep from Monday into Tuesday; obviously my body needed it.  Tuesday night I felt better, kept taking some meds and left it at that.  Wednesday morning I got up, and I felt a little better; still clearly not 100% but I thought I was on the mend.  I went to work, continued meds during the day, had some hot flashes, and what felt like I had a fever.  I went over to my moms desk at work and checked my temp and I did have a low grade fever of 99.3.  I got home that day,  nursed it with lots of sleep and cough meds through Friday.  Friday AM, I had the worst sinus headache, EVER… took some Advil and such and was on my merry way to my cousin’s hotel room and got ready for her big day!  Saturday morning, I didn’t take any meds; thought I was on the mend until I woke up Sunday morning with my body feeling 800 pounds and a neck that felt like a bobble head and general body aches that made my head spin.  Still; didn’t think anything about H1N1… I kept thinking; oh but my cough isn’t that of people with H1N1 and ohh, I’d know it if I had it and yada yada yada.  Well…

2. Exactly one week from the start of my first symptoms; I went to work on Monday the 12th because well… I didn’t think I had H1N1.  I bought some cough drops, kleenex and Sudafed and slept on the couch that evening because I was coughing SO BAD in bed.  There was absolutely NO way I could even TRY to get some sleep while laying in bed.  Tuesday morning I felt a little worse, still… thought I was okay.  Last time I had a sinus infection; it lingered for 3-4 weeks and I didn’t think this was any different.  Tuesday at work, I felt like death… literal death.  I got in the car for the ride home and it took ever fiber of my being to walk from my car to my house.  I got in the door, looked at Duke and said, “Momma doesn’t feel good.” and Chris turned around from the livingroom and looked at me and said, “Momma doesn’t look good.” and I was weaker than I had been in the past week.  I felt horrible; progressively worse as the night went on.  My biceps, my hip bones… OH MY HIP BONES, my thigh muscles, my fingers, my wrists my… everything.  My facebook status says it fairly well:

This status was on the horrible Tuesday evening where I felt drastically worse.  My mom came over, I took my temp and it was 103.8 but I’m fairly certain the battery was dead because it died shortly there after on the thermometer and it wasn’t consistent.  Either way; it was horrible.

3. Tuesday evening, I called my supervisor, explained my symptoms and that I was not coming in to work.  I slept on the couch on Tuesday night; and I had a doctor appointment scheduled for Wednesday evening for my Narcolepsy and so I figured I could talk to my doctor then.  I felt so horrible, and hurt physically SO BAD, that I called my doctor earlier that morning and left a message (how they understood my voice, I don’t know) and wanted to see if there was any way for me to either A) get in earlier or B) if they didn’t want me there due to the H1N1 symptoms, if they could prescribe me something.  My doctor called me back and they said they didn’t want me in; he said I need to be off work for the next 24-48 hours until after my fever breaks, and that yes, I had H1N1 and I was to stay home and not go out in general public.  So, fast forward until Thursday… no more fever; and still feeling like crap, but DEFINITELY better than Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Friday rolled around and I was beginning to feel much better… still clearly not 100%; still coughing up a lung, but definitely better…  however, notice the status update on Thursday evening/early Friday AM in the middle of the night at 2:43am.  But then when I did get some sleep and woke up later on, I felt a little better…

4. Friday evening, things got significantly better and on Saturday I was definitely feeling better… still not 100% but better than Thursday and Friday.  Progress people; progress.  The coughing was horrendous though.

5. Sunday I went over to help my dad for an hour or so outside.  I didn’t think much of it; I was still coughing but I dressed warmly, covered my mouth and soon after we were done with what he needed; I went back home.  I wasn’t going to go over to help him, but I thought I was on the mend and Chris was mowing lawn, and dad had to cover some big boats that he was storing and so I really wanted to help him because since we don’t live there anymore, he doesn’t have the help anymore.  Well, my mom is there, but my dad and I always used to do that stuff together and I would have felt bad had I said no.  So, I went anyways.

6. Monday the 19th (yesterday) rolled around and I went to work for the first time in 5-6 days.  I felt better; still coughing, no body aches, still stuffy nose, and needed cough meds but that’s about it.  By mid afternoon I was feeling icky; I got the body aches and nasty feeling… but it passed, and I didn’t think much of it.  I got home from work; pooped… clearly still not back to myself.  I ate supper and by about 6:30pm the coughing started.

And it didn’t quit.

And didn’t quit.

And I’d puke.

And I couldn’t catch my breath.

And I’d gag.

And it didn’t quit.

And didn’t quit.

And I’d spit up crap.

And it didn’t quit.

And come 10:30, Chris was nervous enough and called the hospital.

They paged the oncall doc who then called us, and said since I had H1N1 and was getting better, but not just got worse, that I needed to go to the Emergency Room.

Two neb treatments later, chest x-ray and a prednisone pill …I was sent home with some Tylenol 3 w/ Codeine and prescriptions for prednisone and albuterol and told absolutely no work for next 48 hours.

Thank GOD, for the Tylenol 3… It’s actually allowing me to get some sleep without hacking up a lung.

Other than that, I am doing better… and PLEASE, all I can say to you is this…

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.

If you aren’t feeling well, and you get extreme body aches and a fever along with coughing?  Chances are you have H1N1.

Review these symptoms and watch for them.  I truthfully believe that everyone is going to get this nasty thing… it’s just a matter of when and how bad.

Take care of yourself.  I’ve learned some valuable lessons with this whole ordeal the past few weeks; and really… well, it was an eye opener.

And if you have Asthma or any related respiratory disorders?  PLEASE take extra precautions.  I can honestly tell you that if I had Asthma or a respiratory problem on top of H1N1… well; I’d likely rather be dead than deal with the horrendous breathing problems.  I’m a healthy person otherwise and this has taken a severe toll.

And if you have the flu… STAY HOME.  PLEASE STAY HOME.  Even if you’re unsure if you have the flu, STAY HOME ANYWAYS until either a) your fever goes down, b) you feel better within a day, or c) you clearly have just a cold.

Ugh, I could go on and on.  This is nothing to mess with, I don’t know how much more to stress it other than right now, laying on my couch, with a chest that feels like it’s going to burst every time I cough, and a sterum and chest cavity that ache, and a constant feeling of having to cough, and a raspy voice, and not being able to take a deep breath without going into an extreme coughing fit that brings you from a laying down position to a sitting up position all by itself because you cough so hard, and the general rattle in your chest?

…is not fun and I don’t want you to have to go through it, either.

Trust me.

Wash your hands. A lot.

I’m sure you’ve noticed things are a weeee bit different around here!  Huge huge thanks to Courtney of Judith Shakes Designs for designing such a FABULOUS theme!

Check out the header!  It’s got all the fancy dancy little subscribe, contact and twitter buttons intertwined right in there all fancy dancy and schtuff!  Love it, and I couldn’t thank her enough!  I’m not that talented… sure I can dabble in some regular theme updating and such, but the full on holy moly batman kinda look that she did here?  Yeah, schhhhhhhhhhhhrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom, waaaaaaaaay over my head!

So, anyways, huge thank you to Courtney for doing such a fan-freaking-tastic job!  Mucho gusto mah dahlin!

…as for me, I know I’ve been QUITE MIA here for a while; however this past week or so I’ve had an excuse… I’ve had the glorious glorious pleasure of dealing with…

I am feeling better, and I am on the mend now, thank God.  Now if only this dang cough and chest crap would go away.  I’m still no where near 100% but it feels good to feel half way normal again.

Those of you with any concerns thinking that you MIGHT have it?  I suggest you read this ladies article and journal.  My symptoms followed her EXACT footsteps.  I was off work last Tuesday October 6th, horrible sore throat, slight fever, thought I was getting better, took dayquil/decongestants and advil until Friday, it returned, Sunday started to hurt horribly, hips, thighs, biceps, ankles, wrists, arms, everything… and by Tuesday afternoon I was down for the count and I’ve been home since.

Anyways, go read her story – it totally makes sense, and I suggest if you have ANY of these symptoms; to take the precautions.  PLEASE.  It is NOT fun, and I do not wish how I felt the past few days on anyone.

Much Love!

My family changed forever.  And ever.  And ever.  And ever.

Specifically my mom, and grandma and aunts on my moms side of the family.  Not only did they lose a sister, but they lost a brother-in-law, and part of their soul and their nephew who is spending life in prison. 

Around approximately 10:30am on Saturday October 8th, 2005, I got a phone call that would change everything

That’s all that needs to be said, just know that I don’t wish what happened to our family, to my worst enemy.

Published: March 16, 2006
Edition: METRO
Section: NEWS
Page#: 1B
Correction: The tears and remorse finally came Wednesday when Matthew Niedere, 18, was sentenced for the murders of his parents at their Hastings business.

‘I hurt everyone I know,’ teen says
Matthew Niedere and Clayton Keister were sentenced to 30 years for killing Niedere’s parents last October.

By Jim Adams

Staff Writer   

CORRECTION+

The tears and remorse finally came Wednesday when Matthew Niedere, 18, was sentenced for the murders of his parents at their Hastings business.

In a standing-room-only courtroom, Niedere began crying as his brother’s wife recounted her pain and shock to learn that his parents – her toddler’s grandparents – had been killed in their auto glass shop.

“Matt, you were a great uncle to Austin and brother to Dan and brother-in-law to me. But in the blink of an eye you tore our family apart,” said a tearful Angela Niedere, 22. “I hope you think about your family and are truly sorry for what you’ve done.”

County Attorney James Backstrom chastised Niedere and classmate Clayton Keister, 17, for blaming each other two weeks ago when they pleaded guilty to aiding first-degree murder while attempting to commit aggravated robbery. However, he offered them a plea agreement under which they will serve at least 30 years in prison for killing Peter and Patty Niedere. Backstrom dropped another murder charge that carried a life-without-parole sentence.

He agreed to the pleas, Backstrom said, after talking with Niedere’s family and considering research that shows teenage brain development, including impulse and aggression control, isn’t complete until youths reach their 20s. That may help explain why some kids seem to lack the ability to understand the consequences of their actions, he said.

Before the sentencing, Niedere took the stand.

“I hurt everyone I know,” he said.

“I want to apologize to my family,” Niedere said. “I hurt them the most.”

Niedere also apologized for exaggerating to officials how bad his arguments were with his parents and for blaming Keister for plotting the murders.

“I tried to blame other people for what I had done,” he said. “I brought my best friend into a situation that no one should have to go through.”

Niedere also urged other troubled kids to talk to their parents, and urged parents to get the truth out of their kids “no matter how much they try not to tell you.”

Dakota County District Judge Timothy McManus imposed a sentence of 30 years before the two will be eligible for parole, and ordered them to pay funeral and family counseling costs of about $22,500.

After the sentencing, Backstrom and family members said this was the first time they had seen sincere remorse expressed by the two friends, who both apologized and admitted their roles in the killings.

Always a grandson

Marion Rohr, Patricia Niedere’s mother, said she thought her grandson “is finally remorseful … I hated what he did, but he will always be my grandson.”

Jeanne Loesch said the loss of her sister and husband has been overwhelming but the family has pulled together. “Some days you feel like falling apart, you miss Patty and Pete so much,” she said. “You can forgive, but it’s hard to forget. Pete and Patty would definitely want us to forgive.”

Niedere and Keister both said they know God will forgive them, but they don’t know if they can forgive themselves for what Keister called “an incredibly stupid and devastating plan.”

Niedere admitted firing a pistol at his father and mother until it ran out of bullets and then asking Keister to finish his mother off with a shotgun. Police tracked them down that night, and a third suspect, Jamie Patton, was found the next day.

Patton, 18, rejected a plea offer Wednesday and faces trial on murder conspiracy charges in May. His attorney, Bruce Rivers, said he will argue that Patton withdrew from the conspiracy after he and Keister bungled a murder attempt at the Niederes’ home the night before the couple were killed.

Backstrom said drugs, alcohol and mental illness were not factors in the shooting, but maybe the teenagers’ immature brains played a role.

Minneapolis psychologist David Walsh has studied such adolescent research and wrote a recent book about it: “Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen.”

“The teenage brain is not the finished product we thought it was,” Walsh said. “The real breakthrough on this came six or seven years ago, when we found the executive center, the prefrontal cortex, undergoes major wiring during teenage years. That is the part that helps us think ahead to consider consequences and manage emotional impulses and energy.”

Walsh noted that during the eight years of adolescence, teenage boys’ production of testosterone increases tenfold and that can lead to strong reactions when youths are frustrated by parents, school or peers.

Peer pressure can also make teenagers do violent things they wouldn’t do alone, Walsh said.

If you compare the teenage brain to a car, he said, “the gas peddle is to the floor and the brakes are on back order.”