My two sons were taken away from me 4-13-07 by Macomb County CPS in Michigan. They were taken away because I had gotten into an argument with my ex-husband (we were married at the time), and I had been arrested for domestic violence. My sons’ natural father wanted to give the boys up for adoption at this time, but I refused. For three weeks my sons remained in foster care, until I went to pick them up. My 70 year old grandmother ended up taking temporary custody of them from then on out. CPS made me jump through hoops to get my sons back – had to have a full-time job (which I had), had to be in school full-time (college), parenting classes (6 total, 6 weeks, cost $35 for book), therapy, substance abuse therapy (Downtown Detroit), substance abuse testing (2x a week for 18 months), psychological and psychiatric testing. That’s all I can think of off the top of my head. In the time that they were not in my custody, I remained active in my children’s lives. I am going to school to be a legal assistant with big hopes of becoming a REAL advocate for parents who have had their children ripped from their homes. Sometimes all parents need is a little help – not to have their kids taken away. My case was closed 3-13-09, one year and 11 months after it began. I have a 5 month old daughter and we all live with my fiance, who is now going through CPS with his ex-wife (after we just went through all of this for my sons). She has called and made ridiculous allegations, and two weeks ago CPS left a letter in our door saying that my fiance and i had to go and take drug tests by the end of that day! Being so scared of having the kids taken away again, we did, and they came back negative. But his ex-wife is continuing to harass us….