Monday, May 13th 11:23am

Hi Everyone.

Here’s your "Surgery + 2 Days" update. Overall, there is good progress. Mom’s temperature is holding and the doctors have no major causes for concern. Her gut is making the “right sounds”. She is not yet taking food orally but is, instead, receiving nutrition via her IV “feedbag”. She takes at least three walks a day down the hospital hall with her entourage … nurse, walker, IV tree, tree-pusher and admirers!

While Mom continues to recover and get stronger daily, it's not a recovery entirely without bumps. She had a tough night of nausea - her consistent enemy for the last several months. The docs are trying to find out what med is the culprit. So, Mom is tired today as she didn't get a lot of rest last night. However, her sense of humor is still intact and she jokes about her vomiting aim and accuracy.

The epidural given to her is an amazing help in controlling her bad pain and certainly takes the edge off. She does have some big twinges, though, and a new nemesis has shown up …the dreaded hiccups! They began post-surgery - they are frequent and not fun. We’ll get rid of them with our tried and true method and they’ll come back a half hour later.

I continue to be humbled and amazed by her tenacity, humor and grace through this odyssey. She worries about all of us driving safe, getting enough rest and eating properly. No matter the circumstance, she’s always a wife, mother and friend first, patient a distant second.

As I type, she just fell asleep … finally. She looks peaceful and beautiful. I’ll leave you all with that image.

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes…..Sammi