A mother's - and an aunt's - love

Click to Enlarge Kim Lamb • LVN photo Jennifer Orozco, center, is caring for her sister Tracy's children while Tracy is deployed overseas. Pictured above, from left to right, are Sierra, Sage, baby Elijah, Jennifer and Jessica. Get News Feeds

CHRISTY LATTIN
CHRISTY LATTIN, clattin@lahontanvalleynews.com
May 11, 2008

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The Orozco family suddenly grew by two in February when a 10-year old and a 10-month old moved in.

Jennifer Orozco and her husband Dan welcomed their niece and nephew, Jessica and baby Elijah, in February when their parents were both deployed across the globe to fight in the war on terror.

The entire family was surprised to learn that both military parents would be deployed at the same time, forcing them to leave their children.

"It was a big shocker for all of us," said Jennifer, a medical secretary. "But I would never turn her away."

Jennifer's sister, Tracy, is an Air Force lieutenant currently serving in Kuwait and her brother-in-law, Lupe, is an Army captain serving in Iraq. Lupe deployed to Iraq in October and Tracy deployed in February.

Caring for her own kids Sage and Sierra, in addition to her niece and nephew, working full-time and attending school keeps Jennifer's plate full.

Her description of her life: "It's chaotic."

When she first learned Jessica and Elijah would be living with her indefinitely, she didn't think twice about it since Jessica had spent summers at her house before. But having a baby in the house again was something she hadn't quite prepared herself for.

"I forgot how hard babies are," she said with a laugh.

Tracy brought the kids to Fallon from their home in the Seattle area and stayed for a couple of weeks to help her children transition to their new home and Jessica to her new school. When it was time to leave, the whole family accompanied Tracy to the airport as she said her tearful good-bye to her children.

"It was the saddest thing I've ever seen," Jennifer said.

Tracy rocked Elijah to sleep in her arms and handed the baby to Jennifer at the last possible moment. Crying and upset as well, 10-year-old Jessica watched her mother leave.

"It was really hard, I just didn't want to say good-bye," Jessica said. "I didn't want her to leave."

Once home together, the combined family settled in. While she's sad being away from her mother for a long time, Jessica is handling the transition well. She acclimated to her new classroom and has begun playing basketball and taking swimming lessons.

Baby Elijah, though, had a tough time.

"The baby did the worst," Jennifer said. "He was only five months old. He wanted his mommy."

Because Tracy's deployment date changed so often, Jennifer was unable to arrange for Elijah's daycare until the children arrived. She called on her friend, Debbie Irvin, a military wife who watches children, and asked if she had room. At first, the answer was no. After explaining the situation, and knowing full well how military service can sometimes disrupt families, Irvin rearranged some things and accepted Elijah.

The children are able to talk to their mother via the computer and a web cam, and Tracy and Lupe have both recorded DVDs of themselves at their respective military bases reading books to their kids. In turn, the Orozco family sends care packages to Tracy and Lupe with letters, pictures and cookies.

Jennifer, mindful of how much her sister and brother-in-law are missing, is keeping a baby book for Elijah. His first two teeth just came in and he's almost ready to take his first steps.

The children are expected to live with Jennifer and Dan until summer of 2009. Jennifer is reluctant to think about the time when they leave her; it'll be hard to let them go.

"I know they'll be back in the summers," she said. "Other than that, we'd have to fight for custody."

While shouldering the responsibility for her sister's children, Jennifer is still Tracy's biggest fan.

"I am so proud of my sister," Jennifer said. "It would be so hard to have to leave your family, let alone your infant, to serve our country."