We have brought our now 10 yr old son and 5.5 yr old daughter home 1.5 yr ago. They also survived a major change, a move from MN to AK less than a year after their arrival to the U.S.! They have settled in beautifully. Our children were listed as completely healthy, but extremely sensitive when we got the referral. Our son was indeed extremely sensitive and threw major tantrums (keep in mind, he is a 10 yr old) when he arrived to the U.S. (and during bonding). These behavior started diminishing in the U.S. The main issues we had at the beginning had to do with their refusal to eat what we put in front of them, just general disobedience. We feel lucky that we had NO major health issues (minor fillings as for dental work), in fact our son has not had a cold since he came! Our son had a diagnosis of heart murmur but it was determined to be non-threatening. An annoying issue with our daughter has been ... toilet training. We are finally having success after month of success and relapse.
Both kids are doing well socially and academically. Son is in the 3rd grade, he spent the first semester in a public school, which was great (good ESL resources). In AK, we put him in a Catholic school, and it has been a blessing, since this is also our parish and community. Our daughter started attending pre-school part-time in MN, and will go to kindergarten in the fall, the same Catholic school.
Our son is very good at math and art, and also a very good athlete. He attended art classes the first year, and now is playing soccer and baseball. He is a server at church and likes to go to church very much (both of them in fact).
Our daughter did not attend any additional activities the first year, but now attends swim lessons and pre-ballet. She seems to be interested in music and dance, has good singing voice as far as I can tell.
Despite the lack of major issues the first year was .... exhausting for my husband and I! (while we think and write about our kids we must not remember about us parents and our adjustment!). We went from 0 to 2 kids, and had very little prior experience with children on a daily basis. I personally put on a few pounds and felt very very tired all the time. My advice to new adoptive parents is to try to take care of themselves during this process as much as possible. I am back to walking and swimming again after the initial period with the children - being in control of one's own health and well-being is important in not only feeling stronger as parents, but as an example to the children as well.
We still of course experience some regular childhood misbehaviors, especially attempts to manipulate, lie in little things, test how far they can go. Our son is working on being less talkative and not interrupting the teacher. He still occasionally tries to be the parent to our daughter in a school situation, for example (e.g. tells her not to play with someone, etc.). I found this from St. Catherine of Siena, it is a valuable thought (we have loved and been affectionate with our children but think it is advisable not to overindulge -- seems to be working pretty well!):
Children should be loved for the love of Him who created them, and not for the love of self nor of the children.
-- St Catherine of Siena
p.s. I will try to find some pictures to attach