All I need is this lamp...

I'm sure not very many of you will understand that reference. Those of you who do will understand that Jayna is to her hat as Steve Martin is to his lamp and later to his thermos (if you haven't seen the movie The Jerk, you haven't lived). She only needs her hat to survive...atleast she seems to think so.

Last Thursday, Jayna had tympanostomy surgery. That's a fancy word for "tubes in the ears." I was very nervous going into this, as she's just a baby...and more importantly, she's just MY baby. Six days after her first birthday, she had to have a procedure done. And I was sad.

We arrived at the surgery center at 7:00am. We weren't allowed to feed Jayna any breakfast and surprisingly she did fine with that. We got her out of bed at 6:20am, changed her diaper and let her play for a few minutes. Then we left the house with the essentials... the diaper bag, her blanket, Elmo, her annoying singing bear, her cell phone, her keys and her pink Boston hat that she NEVER leaves home without. I'd hate to see what would've happened had we left that hat at home.

We got there and she was instantly amazed by a huge fish tank. Awesome!! Something to keep her mind off of her empty belly! She never quit staring at the fish the whole time we were by the tank (hint, hint daddy!!).

In just 2 or 3 minutes, we were escorted to her room where we had to put her in a baby hospital gown that was 7 sizes too big. It was very cute!!

Then there was some playing with daddy. He can always make her laugh. We had a few minutes before the nurse came in to take her pulse, listen to her heartbeat and put the hospital bracelet on her ankle.

And then the mean old nurse (actually a very nice, young and pretty nurse) came in to do all the pre-surgery stuff. You know the listening to her heartbeat, taking her pulse on her toe and putting on her bracelet. Yeah...that was NOT fun. You see, my kid has become TERRIFIED of doctors because of all the crazy appointments she's been to in her short little life. I'm not sure what she hates more: all the poking and prodding or the being restrained. Here is the aftermath of a stethoscope and a hospital bracelet that I had to end up putting on her myself.

She stole the heart of every nurse, doctor, aide, and cleaning lady that passed her. Not one person would walk by without talking to her and telling her how much they liked her hat. My kid's got some charm...I'm sure this will NOT work out in my favor when she's older.

They let us walk around throughout the hallways as we wanted to keep her calm and happy. She did fine. She would walk for awhile and stop at a bench or the window. And then walk some more. She didn't cry or throw anymore fits until her doctor came in to see her before the surgery. The doctor didn't even touch her...just talked to us for maybe 2 minutes. She just hates doctors THAT much. She really enjoyed walking around and exploring. That...AND her hat...is really what saved us from massive fit-throwing

She was VERY interested in the big double doors that go back to the operating rooms. She tried to go back there every chance she got!! They'd open by themselves (from a doctor pushing the button) and she's just stop and watch them in awe. It was just so cute.

When it was time for her to go back into surgery, two very young nurses, a male and a female, came in to take her back. They told us she could take her hat and her blanket. The female nurse reached for Jayna and Jayna went right to her. And then...Jayna got to go through the big double doors!! She was so happy!! She went back to the OR with the girl and the guy and never even looked back!!

Her procedure was over within 15 minutes. On the way back to her room, we could hear her screaming. She was very disoriented, floppy and grouchy. She stayed that way until we got home 20 minutes later.

At home we got her to drink some juice and I gave her a little oatmeal for her empty belly. She then watched a little "LaLa" (Elmo) and went to sleep for a little over 2 hours.

When she woke up, she was just normal Jayna!! She was hungry as a bear, but she felt better and was as crazy as ever. And guess what she kept pointing to and asking for?? Yep, her hat. Here she is in her beloved hat drinking some juice after playing ball with one of her best buddies.

Apparently, all she needs is her hat. And maybe this remote. And maybe someday she'll trade it all for a thermos.