Triple Argh

I am still sick. Some upper respiratory crap. I can't believe one person can make so much snot. I am pretty much ready for it to be over. Argh.

My mom told me yesterday that my cousin's girlfriend is expecting a baby next month. We never heard from this family (my aunt) after Serenity died. Nothing.

My cousin is younger than me, early twenties. He was severally autistic as a child, and went through special education. He is on disability for the rest of his life, and is never expected to work. He is often extremely single minded, and our conversations have always been all about him, or his latest obsession. He's never asked me about anything in my life.

He's had this girlfriend for awhile, a gal that also lives under the care of her parents. I met her at my grandmother's funeral, she was showing off her engagement ring. They are both extremely unhealthy - they can split a whole pizza between them. They are also lazy, my aunt and uncle never requiring him to mow the grass or do other chores around the house. My aunt, uncle and the two boys live in a tiny two bedroom house. The only one that works is my younger cousin, who also has developmental issues, but who has worked at Target (he brings in the carts) for at least three years now. I've always thought that the boys were fine, but that their upbringing could have been better. But the expectations aren't really there. I am very proud of the youngest, who works and has friends and saves money for his priorities (typical boy stuff- video games, movies). My sister and I have tried to figure out what would happen to them (we grew up in different states) when their elderly father and then our aunt die- but we have never been told. The younger boy might be able to live on his own, but I don't think that he really knows how to manage a household (bills etc). The older one, with the pregnant girlfriend, I guess would need assisted living.

As an aside, I have always worried that something would be wrong with a baby of mine. Incidentally, my mom says that my cousin's mental retardation was caused by a short umbilical cord that choked him during labor. I also think it has something to do with his father's chronic alcoholism and advanced age when he was conceived (he was like late 50's and my aunt almost 40). My aunt also had learning disabilities (back in the day before there were such things). But, I always knew these things were in the family.

Anyway. Girlfriend is due in March. I don't know what prenatal care she has gotten. I don't know how long my aunt has known that she is pregnant, considering my mom just heard about it a month before the due date.

I am completely unsettled by all of this. My aunt will end up raising this kid (she told my mom this directly), while waiting on her nincompoop husband and taking care of the eldest and the girlfriend, who is going to be moving into their basement. I guess the girlfriend, my cousin and the baby will be living in the basement Argh, argh.

I am mad. I am frustrated. This is just what is making me crazy these days. And it would even if I had my wee one-year-old sitting here with me. It is not a great sitaution.

And Van's cousin is due in less than two weeks too. Triple argh.