Ambien and Crafts

I've been taking Ambien for about a month now due to ongoing insomnia. While I love that Ambien allows me to fall asleep quickly, I'm not sure it's entirely healthy. Last weekend, I ran out of Ambien and was unable to get a refill. I took Tylenol PM one night, which was completely ineffective. The next night, per the pharmacist's advice, I took Leader brand sleep aid. I did get a bit more sleep than I did with Tylenol PM, but I had such horrible vertigo the next day that my mom had to come help me as I stayed in bed all day. That evening, I took my newly refilled prescription of Ambien and slept very well with no side effects the next day. But, for the last couple days I've felt as if I hit a wall just a few hours into the day. It's a lot like I felt in the days immediately following surgery in March. I feel a wave of exhaustion come over me, mainly between my eyes with the rest of my body soon following. I called my Endocrinologist today to request a blood test because I question whether my TSH is improving at all given this apparent setback or if it's related to something else, like the Ambien.

Another 'problem' I've found with Ambien is memory loss. So far, I've actually found it quite amusing. It's sort of like a 'drunk dial' as I discover the morning after that I've written on various people's Facebook walls or my husband relates a detailed conversation of which I have no memory or else it's sort of like I remember, but it's more like recalling a dream. Fortunately, thus far I've been kind in my Facebook posts. And my husband says I'm very sweet during my Ambien cloud.

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Call for Creative Help

At my Compassionate Friends meeting this week, I learned the December meeting traditionally involves a group craft in addition to the regular meeting. Myself and two other baby loss moms (one baby stillborn/one baby SIDS) volunteered to lead the craft. While December obviously includes Christmas and I know there are quite a few Christians in our group, I expressed my concern that I'd like to design a craft that doesn't exclude non-Christians. So I'd like to skip anything overtly 'Christmas-y'. I also don't want a craft that is 'cutesy.' Plus, the craft must be something that all skill levels can comfortably complete. And of course I want the craft to actually symbolize something about each person's child or each person's love for that child. But I don't want to require the child's picture for the craft. Well . . . coming up with the 'perfect' craft is easier said than done. If each of you could leave a comment with an idea for a craft, I'd be forever grateful. :)