Usher's Son -- Smiling, Laughing, Eating After Near-Death Pool Accident

Usher's 5-year-old son is showing miraculous signs of improvement after nearly drowning in a pool the other day -- in fact, we're told he's already sitting up in bed at the hospital, eating, laughing, and talking to people ... BUT, it may be days before he's released.

Sources close to the family tell us, Usher Raymond V is still in the ICU -- where he's being kept in a private area -- he's expected to be released in the next couple of days.

According to sources, the boy's mother Tameka -- Usher's ex-wife -- hasn't left the hospital since the accident.

As we reported, Tameka blames Usher for putting their son in an environment that led to the near-drowning accident on Monday. She has already filed legal docs seeking primary custody.