Dec. 31 Update #2

Well, Mom got close to her request for ice cream...she was given some orange sherbert for her dessert with dinner. Her diet is pretty much broth, jello, italian ice, ginger ale, and ice at the moment. The nurse this evening was really great....she started getting Dad ready to dress Mom's bandages and empty the drains to Mom's abdomen so he'll be a pro by the time he has to do by himself at home. We've hoped to get some of the same nurses we've had before, but even the nurses new to us have been great. We had one nurse, Emily, who we loved...she was with us the night before surgery with the bowel prep. Our favorite nurse in the ICU was Michael...so, so attentive to Mom's needs as well as ours. He let us stay during the 2 hr. period when visitors really aren't supposed to be there. Today, Mom was pretty tired and didn't get to walk around much as hoped, but she did have the chance to practice with her breathing apparatus and was starting to improve with that. I'm calling Dad "Sgt. Wingate" since he's being sure Mom is diligent with breathing practice.