I just rifled through my bag to see if I had something unusual and useful, and came across the clamp that I had for DS1 over the summer. He had a ruptured appendix, and needed two weeks of IV antibiotics. We did most of it at home through a Broviac catheter in his chest (they usually do a PICC line in the arm, but couldn't get one in b/c all his veins were so little ).

Anyway, it looks like a pair of blue plastic scissors and I had to keep it with us at all times in case the port of his catheter came off. We'd need to clamp the tube if that happened, otherwise, he could start bleeding out of it.

So, it was useful for us to have, but I suppose I can get rid of it now!

Here's a pic I took (the day before he got his catheter out) of DS2 giving DS1 a kiss.

That is such a sweet picture of your boys Emily!

And quite an unusual item to carry in your bag.

Thanks, Amanda! I looove that pic of them!

Aww, poor little guy! What a darling picture of your boys though!

I am so sorry he had to have that, but what a darling picture! My dad had to have 8 weeks of IV antibiotics for an infection in his prosthetic knee, over the summer, and he had a PICC line. I can't believe a small child (a BOY nonetheless!) had to have something similar. My poor dad is extremely active - works out, plays baseball with ds, basically does everything. Well, he had to sit still and do nothing for all of that time, so as not to infect the PICC line with sweat (I know gross!) or anything else. He could not swim, which was like torture.
I could not imagine dealing with that with a little one! What a good strong mama you must be!!!

8 weeks?! Ugh, your poor dad! We only had two weeks, and I was sooo glad to be done with it!

The worst part about it (well, besides the little boy having it at all!) was that we could not keep the dressing on for anything!! The home health people had to come over nearly every day to replace it, and even DH and I had to put a new dressing on a few times! I guess adhesive doesn't stay on a sweaty, wiggly toddler very well! That's why the dressing looks so haphazard in the picture! We taped and taped and taped just to keep it on!!

Thanks, Jen!

That's exactly where Kaden's port-a-cath was too!
Cute pic

Thank you, and big hugs, Kathryn! I'm sure K had his in for quite awhile.

Oh your poor baby. Glad that is all over with now and what a great picture you have to cherish always!

Yeah, but the port was covered by his skin and only had tubes when he was on chemotherapy or other iv drugs.