Arriving in Irkutsk on Sept. 23, the Treus went directly to see their son at his orphanage. Treu said that seeing his adopted son for the first time was the same type of bonding experience as the first time he saw his biological children. Unfortunately the orphanage, although pleasant, had too many children and not enough caregivers.

The Treus' court date for the final legalization of the adoption was Sept. 24, after which Russian law requires a ten-day waiting period in case the adoption is appealed. Usually the waiting period is waived, but the Treus' judge chose not to do so. Although inconvenienced, the Treus used the extra time to bond with Benjamin and learn about Irkutsk.

The Treus found Benjamin a patient, cheerful and healthy child, although underdeveloped because of a premature birth and lack of individual attention. Benjamin's developmental level is comparable that of to a six- to nine-month old, but already he is catching up, the Treus said.

Touring Irkutsk, the Treus learned that local merchants routinely do their calculations on abacuses, that Siberians beat themselves with birch branches while bathing and that grandmothers, called babushkas, do not hesitate to give strangers in the street advice on raising children.

Irkutsk is 70 kilometers from Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, containing one-seventh of the world's fresh water supply. Several museums dedicated to the Decembrist revolt, which paved the way for the Bolshevik revolution, are located in Irkutsk. Beautiful Russian orthodox cathedrals and an eternal flame honoring the city's founding are other Irkutsk attractions.

Adjusting to Russian food was difficult for the Treus. Once Dr. Treu thought he ordered fish but received chicken stuffed with liver. Russian pies, which the Treus enjoyed, are buns stuffed with mashed potatoes, cabbage or mushrooms.

While enjoying their time in Irkutsk, the Treus said they sometimes felt like fish out of water. Daily e-mail to friends in America quickly became part of their routine. These letters, offering an amusing and informative account of their trip, form a "travel log" the Treus will someday share with Benjamin.

Dr. Treu anticipates returning someday to Irkutsk with Benjamin, so that he can appreciate the city's rich culture.

"It gives me chills just thinking about it," he says. "I think that would be really cool."

According to Dr. Treu, Benjamin merged easily into his new family and is adored by his siblings. The Treus have three biological children and decided to adopt a fourth because they wanted another child and felt "plenty of existing children could benefit from a stable home."

Adoption was "just the biggest adventure of our lives and something we'll always remember," says Dr. Treu. "We'll always have Benjamin to cherish. It was very meaningful and I highly recommend it."