Step Mom with Questions

C.,
I'm going to safely assume that there is more to the story. The issues of death and dying are very deep and complicated. Try and understand that there is a lot more to lose on the side of the person who is about to lose her life. We, the ones who are not faced with the reality of death, have the freedom to make life-decisions.
Think about this; could she only be acting defensively and holding on to the only things that matter to her right now? the only things that remind her of purpose and LIFE?
So, taking these representations of life is like sucking the very last breaths out of her. Maybe if you acknowledge her situation for her benefit she would be more apt to thinking about the welfare of the kids later on. The grieving process takes on stages: the first one is denial and anger. Read more about it and maybe it will shed some light as to why she is reacting and not responding to your interest and the kids.
Give her space. Legally, will the kids go anywhere else?
Look at your legal options now. Get prepared if it gets to that point. Get a lawyer - if this is where you want to go. Unless your husband gave up his rights, does she really have the full right to give up his? It may be that the State where she lives allows that. ????
I don't really know why CPS is on the case unless there is an active case. Maybe the healthcare providers are just assisting her emotional needs. As a healthcare provider - I would have to look at my patient wholistically and part of that is to take care of factors that affect my patient's ability to be comfortable and especially if they cause pain. I hope this helps. Err on the side of caution. Yield towards kindness and to those who require it.

Get a good lawyer!!! I also think you and your husband should seek counseling from a church, your home church if possible. The people there would know you and back your husbands character now. But definitely start with a lawyer.

Good luck & God Bless!

As long as he has done everything he is suppose to, I can't see CPS keeping his kids from him. They lean on the parents having the children. I live in Texas, and we got custody of our Grandchild. I know for a fact that Texas CPS works hard at reforming parents to keep their children. It is up to the parent to follow through. CPS gives the parent a year to work at getting their child back. That is if they go so far as to remove the child from the home. Get a lawyer. The fact that she let the kids come to visit for weeks at a time shows she was not concerned for their health then. If she was, then the lawyer can bring up, she indangered a child by letting them go for visits. If she don't feel like she put her kids in harms way by letting them visit for weeks at a time, than why would she feel like they are in danger now. If you get a good lawyer, I can't see this going anywhere even for CPS.