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I have neighbors who have adopted two Russian children. Nick was adopted in 1996 when he was 5, from an orphanage. He was so developmentally and physically delayed, it was sad. He was functioning about the same as my daughter (who was 2 1/2 at the time) and they got along great (even when he didn't speak a word of English!). He started kindergarten a month after he came here and knew hardly any English. He is still in special ed now and I think it's because he was so deprived as a young child. He had never had his teeth brushed, had never.. really done ANYTHING.. ridden a bike, eaten right, nothing. It was sad but he is thriving now. Lydia was adopted a few years later and was only 18 months old but she was about the size of a 7 month old. The pediatrician told her mom to give her as much fat as possible. Real butter, fried foods, whole milk, etc., because they're diet of lean fish didn't provide enough fat for a child. She was soooo tiny and wasn't walking or talking yet. She has adjusted better than Nick did and is doing far better in school than Nick did also. I would suggest that if you adopt from Russia, try to get a younger child to lessen the effects of the deprivation. Lydia is still tiny compared to most of her classmates, but she is really thriving in every other way and seems to catch up a little more every year.
Dee
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