Happy Valentine's Day Ya'll!

Part 2

If you are new to reading my blog, first you need to read part 1, and you also need to know that my hometown is Paris, Texas.

She heard it in my voice. I quickly grabbed my cell phone and called my dad since I was on hold from my landline phone.. I told him the address which they gave me to where the beautiful lacy items (not sure of the package contents, but I do like to think it was some really sleezy stuff) were shipped. I confirmed with him that we haven't ever lived at the address listed or he hadn't been at a rent house at this address. He told me the general area of this address, and let's just say it isn't...well a nice neighborhood. He wrote down the address. I hung up with him as I was taken off hold from VS. They were having trouble with their computer, so they told me. At one time they even asked if I planned on reopening my account to remain a VS customer since I had closed my account back in October when all this started. Uuuu. NO! They kept asking my name and continued telling me they had no record of an order that Paige Pearson had placed. My blood pressure at this point was boiling. WHAT DO YOU MEAN you don't have an order placed by Paige Pearson on this account. WHY am I on the phone with you then? They informed me that the order was placed by a PAIGE BOWDEN!!! EXCUSE ME!? What did you say!? ( For some of my readers who may not know me...my MAIDEN name is Bowden) I flipped out! For the next few minutes I had a moment with the VS sales representative to something like this:

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME...someone from my hometown, where I haven't lived since 1994, or had an address there since 1998 used my card to ship to an unkown address using a name that I haven't had on THIS account since 2000 and on a card that hasn't been used since 2003 and at no time was a red flag thrown!!! You have got to be kidding me!
(again, just a summary)

The VS person on the phone then proceeded to tell my how many thousands of internet orders a day they receive and there is no way they can monitor them all, and I must say NOT in a very nice tone! She continued to ask me how someone in Paris got my account number. I told her they must have done one of the crazy free panty give away things trying to get business and sent it to an old address or someone got a hold of a NEW credit card they must have sent out to a Paige Bowden, just like dogs and 4 four year olds getting approved for credit cards. She assured me that there wasn't a record of that on their computer. Great. She again asked me if I knew someone who lived at that address. I told her no, and I think at this point is where I totally lost it. I actually began yelling. I told that sweet little girl on the phone that I had been nothing but nice to each and every collector that had called, and I did everything VS had asked me to do, and that VS needs to take the ENORMOUS charge off my account immediately!

I was shaking...sweating...my heart was going crazy! I really can't remember a time I have been so mad. That sweet little girl then told me then I must go file a police report! WHAT! I still don't understand this one because I don't know how this person in Paris got my account number. Her tone did change after I raised my voice, which is crazy! She became a nice, cool toned customer service representative.

My dad called back and told me he had called the Paris Police Department and asked who lived at that address. It was not registered at all. So after work my dad and Sid actually drove by this house!!! I can't really see my dad being the Perry Mason type! He wanted to stop and go look in the windows but Sid wouldn't let him! The house was in the slum part of town like he thought, but get this, the house the package of unmentionables were sent: vacant! The next morning an officer went to check the house out and confirmed that no one lived there. He then told my dad some things I need to do, like report it to the police department which I live, that it was really out of his hands even if he were to find someone at the house. It looks like the person who used my card, had it delivered to this vacant house on purpose and probably did drivebys to see when a package appeared.

SO...I am still waiting to hear from VS on where this all stands, but for now and probably forever, my feet will not go into that store. I don't think they handled this professionally and with all the fraud that goes on, that 1 of the things that happened didn't SCREAM fraud!

Thanks for letting me work through this again! A special thanks to the PPD! How nice of them to go check out that house! I just wish that could have caught someone! It is just a puzzle! I will keep you readers updated!

(by the way, when my wallet was stolen back in 2004, my VS card was not used before it was cancelled)

VS Story Part 1

This began back in October when I received a bill from VS for $534.18!!! The problem...I haven't used my VS credit card since 2003 (I know, poor Stacey!). I called immediately to see what had happened. I spent many, many minutes on the phone back and forth with different departments each blaming the other for the problem. The fraud department said it wasn't fraud since I had not lost a card or thrown one away lately. Now, back in 2004 while doing some shopping in Babies R US with a newborn my wallet was stolen right out of my diaper bag! It was a total scam. One lady walked up and asked me a question to the right and another lady helped herself on the left into my cart and my wallet doing thousands in damage in minutes at the mall next door! That card was cancelled and another issued. The irony: Stacey called to cancel the card back in May or something like that and since he wasn't the primary name on the card they wouldn't let him, so it was my responsiblily to cancel the account. Oops. ANYWAY, the fraud depart told me it was catalogs problem. That it looked as if someone put in the wrong numbers while typing in the account. They told me I needed to submit a letter disputing the charges and I did. They told me I would be contacted in about 4 weeks from the internal department or something like that. Oh I was contacted all right, and have been for months from the collection agency they sent my name to. Every time they called, I would explain that I wasn't going to pay what they were asking me, I was disputing the charges, but thanks for calling and have a nice day. This went on daily, sometimes 2-3 times a day. I would smile, even laugh when they called. So, I called VS. VS had not received my letter! That was crazy. They gave me the address again, and off my letter went. Calls, calls calls from the collection agency. No one had notified me from VS like they had said they would when they received my letter. The nice collection agency called again. I was so nice to them, like I was everytime before. They were just doing their job, and I understood that but I wasn't going to pay ANYTHING if I wasn't the one enjoying the duds! You know what I mean. This one collection agency girl was so nice to me. I explained what was going on and she told me exactly what to do. She told me who to call and who to ask for and that this was ridiculous! Her computer didn't say they were even looking into the case! WHAT! I think this girl really could have gotten in trouble with the advice she was giving me. She was telling me to get a lawyer and bring a case against VS for ruining my credit. I kind of laughed and thanked her and hung up after she told me that the agency shouldn't call me for 10 days. IMMEDIATELY my cell phone rang. It was the collection agency! I hung up on that lady. I called VS and was then on the phone for 1.5 hours trying to fix this situation. I kept getting transfered, they wouldn't get me a supervisor/manager or who ever I asked for. Catalog department would send me to fraud, fraud would send me to the collection agency, back to catalog. FINALLY this lady on the phone was trying to say that Stacey must have used my card! I took offense to that, but I know it happens in their line of work all the time, but I assured them if he bought it, I would have seen it! I kept referring to catalog and how they first had told me that someone must have typed in the wrong numbers to my account, and this lady got a HUGE attitude with me saying it was an internet order. THEN WHY HAVE THEY BEEN TELLING ME IT WAS A CATALOG ORDER! I asked how someone could use my account on the internet when they didn't have the number! AND how if I had to answer 10 questions with everyone I talked to on the phone to prove it wasn't fraud was someone able to use my card without answering all those questions??? Finally I asked, just where did these nice items ship to? I was expecting...Africa, New York, California! You know what they told me: Paris, Texas! WHAT! She heard it in my voice. She jumped on it! That manager said, "Oh, you know someone in Paris, Texas?" To be continued!

Just too much to say

So many times over the past week I have thought that I needed to blog about certain happenings...but just haven't made the time.

First of all...thank you for all of your special comments and emails about my nanny. She was a very special lady! Yes, Marianne, the strawberry cake is the one with strawberries in it. I actually have it in Nanny's handwriting! Tomorrow is my Pappa's birthday. I can't believe he has been gone for 9 years! He died just a few days before his birthday. February has lots of memories for me, it is also Nanny Betty's birthday month!

Underwear. I really wanted to blog about this. Stacey told me I shouldn't. I told him I was going to post pictures! He was totally freaked out. You see, I was in walmart without children a few days ago and thought I would spend some time picking out some new undies. I am rebelling against VS due to an issue that will be blogged about in a future post about some fraud, so I thought I would try some good ole' Hanes. It took me a good 20 mintues to pick the perfect cut and size, which was TRICKY! I was so happy...that is until I showed them to Stacey. I think he almost fell over and honestly so did I! There were huge! I even rechecked the package. I bought the correct size so the package said, and I did buy only 1 size larger than I normally wear due to baby. On the package the girl modeling the style I picked out (THAT VS OFFERS AS WELL) looks nice, and in no way did I think this style looked like granny panties. I tried to convince Stacey that the style I chose was a new popular style, and dare I say sexy! I even saw Sarah Jessica Parker wearing a pair of this particular style in a promo for her upcoming movie. So I thought there was no way those new undies were going to fit me. You guessed it, they did! So, I went to the gym.


Today, Emaline told my grandmother, "Get out of town!" She got that from me. Better than SHUT UP!

The kids and I had the best time flying a kite today! Emaline did amazing running holding the string. I couldn't get it away from her...until she dropped the string! Luckily we didn't lose my kite!

I recently put my sitemeter back on my blog. I haven't had it on there since I changed my template MANY months ago. I had no idea the kind of traffic I have been receiving. I don't KNOW people in MOST of the places that are showing up!

Happy Birthday Vida Mae!

***Warning*** Long, long post to follow that brought many tears, but was totally worth it.







You know it is odd how you have been on my mind all day. I knew it was your birthday, but for some reason, this year, more than any other, you have lived in my heart. You would have been 95 today. March 8,1995 I received a call my freshman year at ACU that you had gone to be with our Savior! You were a beautiful lady. I remember so much about you, things I love. I, also have those memories I would like to forget. That disease that controlled your life those last years robbed us. I remember those days in Clarksville, Sunday lunch at your house every Sunday, fighting those crazy crawldads, playing in your sewing room, buzzing that button above the bar that would ring that back room...why did it do that? I remember your love for Blue Bell, I remember you dishing it out, pouring that Magic Shell on top, and us sharing it. I remember you humming. Home again, home again, jiggity jog is what you would always say as we pulled your blue car into the garage. I loved sitting with you at church, in the same row...for how many years was it Nanny? And your hats! You didn't go to church without one, usually purple to match your suit and of course a feather. I sing that old hymn that you would sing to me when you pushed me in your swing set to Parker now. He can sing it now too! Then we moved to Paris. I remember you and Buddy coming to bring me the necessities when Mother Nature visitied this unsuspecting 5th grader! Eating at Furrs. Then, you became my roommate! I am so sorry for all those times I was unkind to you. I know you have forgiven me, but a middle schooler sharing her room with her grandmother was uncool or so I thought! You know what I remember...the example you showed me...you read your Bible every night. You were such a kind person. I remember hearing MANY stories about you and how you helped customers at Self Serve by probably never bringing home a pay check yourself. Those last few years were tough. It was so hard to come visit you, knowing you really didn't remember me. You would call my name, but you called everyone my name! I think it was because of that year we shared my full size bed, bathroom, and closet!







Thank you, Vida Mae, for being a Christian example for me. I miss you. I am proud that Emaline carries your name. Happy Birthday Nanny! I love you!



The photos below are really for all of the cousins, but feel free to scroll through our family history! I added some commentary of the pictures in case you have stuck with it this long.You can read who is who on the bottom of this one. Ruby, well she belongs to the faithful commenter Marianne, that is her MIL, and Bessie, well she belongs to Andrea and Lyneil ( and Amy but she never updates her blog). Bessie told me that they gave Buddy that apple to keep her still. I may have to try that on one of my photo shoots! Vida, Bessie, and Ruby above. I think they were visiting someone in Commerce? Any one know the rest of this story? Here they are, all the girls: Bessie was 20, Vida was 19, Ruby was 18, Martha was 2 (Cousin Susan belongs to her, as well as, Missy) and Betty was 7 (Roselyn, Avery, Julie, and Kanyon belong to her). Uncle James wasn't in this picture, with was Will Ed or Hilliard.



The studly man in all these pictures of course is my grandfather. His name was Harry Houston Bowden. A sawmill man, a rancher, and a fisher he was. He was taken before I was ready, before I really knew him with a heart attack on a fishing trip. I love the stories about his love for my grandmother...amazing examples!

Thanks!

I had a wonderful birthday! Thank you for the ecards, comments, and even an entire blog dedicated to me! We celebrated all weekend, even if I was out for the count with the worst headache known to man! Friday night, Stacey took us to Chicken on a chain...oops, I mean P.F. Changs. Parker didn't understand what Stacey said and thought we were going to see his favorite rodeo bull! Satuday, the day my head was going to explode, we went to a company party, which I got to see 3 people I know ride the mechanical bull! I rode it last year, but this year my condition kept me from it! Sunday morning (actual birthday) we had donuts and chocolate milk for breakfast, Babe's for lunch with my family, and Super Bowl party at a friend's house where at half time I was given my favorite strawberry cake! I do feel old, and I think I am really starting to look pregnant. Today walking through the preschool hall, a lady passed me and said, "You are getting big!" Emaline quickly added, "MY mommy is big! BIG!" How about saying to a pregnant lady, "My, you are really showing!" instead of using the word BIG! If I am BIG now, oh goodness what I will be in a few months!

Today at preschool, Parker's Discovery teacher came and found me to tell me a wonderful story. The teachers were discussing art museums, and famous artists and asked the kids where they might find pieces of this famous art. Parker quickly raised his hands and said: MY REGRIGERATOR! He is quite the artist!

tongue hurts =

Viral tonsilitis, and sinus infection. YUCK!

I seem to have some kind of sinus head thing going on...it has wiped me out!

Looking at those maternity pictures I took of myself (which wasn't easy!) my hands look massive. NOW, I know I have big hands, but they just seem so manly. Not sure I can photoshop my arm off! My grandma always said she knew me in any sports pictures because of my hands. Not sure that is a good thing. Can you make hands NOT look like you can palm a basketball? Which I can't, but I thought it was a good illustration. Enjoy the warm weather...and my cowboy and girl!

HOLY COW!

23 comments! And all I had to do was announce the s*x of my baby!!! I wonder what other announcements I can make... Emaline's tongue hurts! Will you comment about that? I think she has one of those white ulcer bumps on it, but she really won't show me, but has been consistantly complaining now for 2 days! do I call the doctor? Will they think I am totally crazy!? It wouldn't even let her sleep last night. For the first time in her life, I think she spent more time in our bed than her own. All about a tongue! We are both exhausted, and don't let me forget daddy! He held that sweet baby most of the night and is totally sleep deprived. I had some photos to post, not of her tongue, but once I got them uploaded, I didn't like them any more...maybe later.

It is a ....

BOY!


We took the kids to the appointment with us today! The doctor was running a little late, which caused a little stress in the exam room! When the doctor finally arrived, we waited on pins and needles...this little baby was stubborn. The doctor had to jiggle that little one trying to get it to move it's little feet, which were crossed right in the area where we needed to look. All of a sudden, the doctor kind of yelled out: there it is....a boy! Parker yelled out: YES! A BROTHER! How do you like our mini photosession? Emaline wouldn't cooperate. She just wanted to use the remote control! Oh well, maybe next time.

Random post of birthday pictures

4 generations of Pearsons. I love Emaline's face! It is like she is saying: It is my birthday, and I don't want my picture taken!
Now, this isn't a great photo, as many of these I am posting aren't, but I just love her bedhead the morning after her party!


Parker poising!

Aunt Leslie stealing kisses.
Check out her giraffe boots from LaLa and AZ.
Speaking of LaLa. Sorry this is so tilted!
3 Generations.
Cousin Lindsay.

On the way to the stockshow!
Thank you Camille and Malaya for her jewels!
This one. MY FAVORITE! I love her hair flip. I love her jewels. I love how her turtle neck isn't snapped between her legs, and I LOVE HER STANCE! She was playing tackle with daddy!
Dancing in a hulahoop!
And siblings! SHEWWW! They may charge me double for this post! Just kidding. I pay by the year..YUCK!

We should have some important news tomorrow! Don't forget to check back!

Some party pictures

Stacey wasn't thrilled that Parker pulled daddy's head back during the photo! And forgive Parker's eyes. I will work on them later.

A little dancing!

SHUT UP!

Said at dinner tonight

P: Shut UP!

MOMMY: What did you say (my really not thinking he said it)?

P: Shut UP!

M: Who were you saying that to?

P: My heart. It was not being very nice.

M: What did it say?

P: It was saying my name!

M: It was saying Parker?

P: Yes, but it wasn't being nice.

So I spent the next few minutes discussing how we don't say this to anyone. I don't say it to him, and he doesn't repeat it to anyone. ALTHOUGH I do say this when someone tells me something that I can't believe, in an acceptable funny tone, which I will NOT be saying again. I did ask him where he heard it, and of course he said TV.

E's birthday weekend was so much fun! We had an E party for her! I totally stole the idea from Martha Stewart, but we decorated with all pink and had E's everywhere. Thank you Auntie for the help! We had E cookies, an E cake, and cupcakes in the shape of an E. We had pink marshmallows, pink pretzels, and pink strawberry Whoppers. She wore a pink E shirt made by Mammy. Below was the invitation I sent out, minus my personal info. Party pictures to come!

Happy Birthday E!

Happy birthday Emaline, a girl who has style!Today at preschool the zoo came and brought some animals. My coteacher informed them it was E's birthday, so they called all the birthday kids up on stage to help hold a special animal!
Yes, that is a snake around that lady's neck!
Can you see me hiding behind behind E? As soon as they stretched that snake out, Emaline got a little scared. All it took was me putting my hands under that snake and she was all over it. She even rubbed the snake! MIL is not reading this blog because she is terrified of snakes and CAN'T believe I let E do this!
I made cupcakes for her class!
Today started with me and Parker waking her up singing to her. Nana called early to wish her happy birthday, followed by Daddy, Buddy, and Honey. She has had a great day, and it isn't over yet! She has used it to her advantage! When we got home from preschool, I told her that it was time for naps, and she said: NO, NOT ME! Happy bthdAAAA to oooo, happy bthdAAAA to oooo.....
I brought her down a little and tucked her in tight! Love that girl!




Our 2 favorite boys at the stockshow parade. I will post those pictures later, but today is all E!

what am I doing?

Yep, that was my thought today about bringing a third child into this world! I mean seriously, I will never leave the house. Today, we met up with MIL to get Parker after BSF at McDonald's, last week was Chickfila, and that story will follow, but as we were eating, Emaline yells, IT'S COMING OUT! You ask what? Well, I won't tell you specifics, but just know that we ran to the bathroom. MIL stayed back with P. After a good 5 minutes of answering every question Emaline had while taking care of business, I hear MIL tell me now Parker is in the room and he needs to go. I quickly get E cleaned up and hands washed and out the door to MIL and now I on POOP duty with P. As I leaned against the door, over and over pondering if I will ever leave my house again, Parker starts asking me how big my baby is. I continued to encourage him to HURRY I would like to eat my lunch. He finished up, AND by the way, any help on teaching a kid how to wipe himself would be greatly appreciated!!! Just think, what would I have done of MIL would not have been there, or if a 3rd baby would have? I plan to loose my weight quickly after this baby, because I will NOT be eating at fast food restaurants! Or any restaurants for that matter!

Now to Chickfila. I am not a mom to go into the play area with my kids, or I wasn't. I sit where I can see them, and be accessible. Last week MIL and I were chatting while the kids were playing, and out comes a 5-6 year old girl running out of the play area with tears streaming and TOTALLY upset. I quickly jumped to my feet and ran to the play area where I could hear Emaline screaming. I climbed the play equipment like I was on American Gladiators! When I got to the top I saw Parker (also crying) telling E it was okay, just follow him down the slide. He repeated this over and over, AND he could see me. He was in shock. I grabbed Emaline and started rocking her and asking Parker if he could tell me what happened. He explained that a boy with black hair basically help him hostage in the helicopter! That boy with black hair was pulling that girl's hair and being so mean! He and Emaline couldn't escape. I got Emaline calm and slid her down the slide behind Parker. I couldn't see a boy with black hair. I SLOWLY made my exit from the play equipment and met my children at the bottom. Another mom was there waiting and asked me if I knew what happened. I retold Parker's words and grabbed our shoes and we went to sit with MIL to calm the kids down, who were still extremely upset. I needed to go to the restroom, after all my climbing (personal I know!) and ran into the girl and her mom. I asked if she was okay, and she was able to tell me some more of what had happened, but her mom was quick to tell me that the boy had come to apologize! My first thought...WHAT ABOUT MY KIDS! As I made my way back to the table, MIL explained the boy with black hair did come by our table with his mom and did apologize to my children. I have relived rushing up those twist and turns to see my son with tears rolling down his face yelling for his sister to follow him. He was truly scared. I just want to take that from him. Even today, Parker asked MIL if the boy with black hair was going to be where we ate lunch. I have used our Chickfila experience as an incredible teaching moment, and still do. I have learned from this experience as well, and will do my best to monitor the playground for bullies, with a baby strapped to me somewhere, IF I ever eat in public after the next 5 months!

And, I need to post a Happy Birthday Mamma! She turned 80 and we celebrated with an outing to Babe's and back to my house for cake!

Mamma with grandchildren (minus Wyatt) and great grandchildren!

Great Weather=Trip to the Ranch with Friends

We had a ranch day last Saturday! Some great friends were able to come and enjoy the weather with us! Enjoy some of the pictures!

We had a grand time! Thanks Buddy for letting us come and ride horses, drive battery powered cars, throw rocks in the pond, and ride in the tractor!

Better

Just felt like I needed to get rid of that other blog! Thank you all for the encouragement and knowing I am not all alone in this feeling. We have done some fun things the past few days, so I will post again later with pictures! Just wanted you to know the kids can hear me this morning! HA!

do you ever feel

as if no one can hear you? That is the small place I am right now. I did talk to God, and feel He has never left, but as a mommy, I feel almost a desperation. I ask the kids to do something, it could be something fun, and they just sit there. I change my tone to a more upbeat 'don't you want to do this' and still nothing. Then comes the NOW. From picking up toys, to playing games, to eating lunch, to getting on coats, to getting in the car, to walking across a parking lot! I mean, it is only 1:15 and I'm pooped. I know it is the day, and in an hour things could be different after nap time. We are to go to the movies today, and even with that dangling above them...selective hearing. I try to not be a downer on the blog, but just felt like sharing today.

but my heart says it

That is what Parker explained to me the other night. We were taking down our holiday decorations and he started to get sad. He then went on to tell me he was sad. So of course I asked him why....he told me because his heart said it was suppose to snow, and it had not, so we couldn't take down our decorations. He is saying the sweetest things! He asked me if my baby was going to come out before LaLa's. I told him no, that LaLa's is coming out first, and he asked when his baby was going to come out. He has asked me how babies come out of mommy's tummies...and I have until the end of June to answer all these questions!

Emaline is really into praying. She sings a little song and we all sing along, but last night she wanted to pray again during our New Year's dinner. She closed her eyes, blinking tightly all the way through her prayer as we were able to pick out words in her sweet soft voice that was extremely touching. She is loving being Mommy with her new babies she received for Christmas.

We had a great family New Years. I cooked dinner and served it on our china and Waterford! Even the kids! After dinner, we all put on our pj's and made a huge pallet in the living room and did the Video on Demand thing to see Ratatouille. Emaline was tired and lost attention about half way through. It was a great way to celebrate the New Year. The kids went to bed and we stayed up to watch Dick Clark and the BIG D NYE thing. Dick Clark was looking rough. I kept wishing that Ryan Seacrest would stop asking him questions, because the more talked the more he was out of breath. Dale Hansen and Pete Delkus and that other guy were hilarious. I hope you all had a great and SAFE New Year Celebration.

Speaking of safe, I haven't talked much about the accident almost a month ago, and will later on, but Parker has been so funny about it. He asks everyone if they knew my new car crashed. I went with out a car for about a week, borrowing friends cars, aunts cars, and so on waiting on insurance stuff. Then I borrowed Stacey's grandmothers 1995 cutlass! Mammy is usually with Aunt Dee, but drives her car to and from the grocery store. BOY did we laugh! We appreciate Mammy so much for allowing us to borrow her car that she drives to WalMart and back! It only has 55,000 miles on it! Parker would always ask if we were going to take the Cutlass places! One night Stacey and I met for dinner somewhere, and afterward he offered me to drive his truck home and he would take the cutlass! I gladly accepted...but Parker YELLED...MOM, is dad taking the CUTLASS? It was so funny! I am now driving a rental car since the estimate is now up to 45-70 days to get my car back! The car that I drove for 10 days!!! I was driving the rental car and Parker said from the backseat...MOM, I sure like this white car better than the Cutlass! Oh the fun we had with the cutlass!

I will post pictures later, but I am tired tonight. I also need to post about Christmas!

" Mom, some days when you don't pick your nose, and you wait all day, then you pick it!"
this was just said to me while running my spell check! I love my PMAN!