Rep. Gabrielle Giffords remained in critical condition Monday at Tucson’s University Medical Center.

Recent CT scans showed no further swelling in the brain, but doctors were guarded.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” her neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Lemole said. “That swelling can sometimes take three days or five days to maximize. But every day that goes by and we don’t see an increase, we’re slightly more optimistic.”

After Saturday’s operation to temporarily remove half of her skull, doctors over the past two days had Giffords removed from her sedation and then asked basic commands such as: “Show me two fingers.”

“When she did that, we were having a party in there,” said Dr. Peter Rhee, adding that Giffords has also managed to give doctors a thumbs-up and has been reaching for her breathing tube, even while sedated.

“That’s a purposeful movement. That’s a great thing. She’s always grabbing for the tube,” he said.

Giffords’ family is by her side and is receiving constant updates from doctors.

On Monday, two well-known doctors with extensive experience in traumatic brain injury were en route to Tucson to consult on Giffords’ case.

Her doctors have declined to speculate on what specific disabilities Giffords may face.