Hi, I have been in a real battle for my kids for the last 1.5 years. Here is my story help me if you can.
Last April I left my wife after a 12 year bad marriage. The last day I was at the home on april 21, 2006 my ex begged me not to go. I told her I could not take her abuse anymore and I was leaving. At this point she took a large knife out and threatened me with it. After a brief strugle I got her to drop it, and we talked. Once she realized I was leaving she walked down the street and stood in the freeway to kill herself. I called 911. after a simi almost hit her chp arrived and took her away for a suicide watch. this was in front of my 3 boys mind you. After she got out I let the kids stay with her because I had nowhere to go, and had to work. For the next 3 months while waiting for our first court date I saw the boys on weekeds 2 times then she stoped returning all my calls. After discussing this with my lawyer he said just go and take the kids since there are no custody orders yet. When I went to get them she struggled with me as I was getting in the car. I was just trying to get away with my boys. She was all over me clawing at me and hitting me. All I did was push her off of me. After the sherrifs finaly came they said they cant make her give me the kids with out custody orders. Next week we were finally in court and had "triage" it was agreed that I would have the kids on the weekends untill we had a trial. That weekend I showed up to get my boys and instead of here showing up, someone else did with a restraining order claiming I attacked her! so for the next 5 months I was in supervised visits and ordered to see a councler to determin if I was a violent person. Just before our next court date on Dec 14, 2006 I got a call from my ex stating she couldn't take care of the kids anymore due to her "medical" condition and wanted me to come and get them for a while. Well since i had a restraining order on me I called the sherrifs to do a stand by to witness the exchange. I showed up at the bar/ restraunt that she was at with the kids, and the sherrif was already there verifying that I was going to take them. while my ex and I were discussing things, a lady was talking to the sherrif. He later asked if my ex was ok in the head. I told him no and about her history of suicide attempts. He then told me that the lady at the bar said that my ex should have the kids taken away because my ex had told her in the past that my ex thought of killing her self and my kids to get back at me. The sherrif took her statement and the following day I went to court to file emergancy custody orders. 2 days later i got custody and have had them for the last 7 monts. 1 month ago I agreed to let her have visits unsupervised on weekends. Last week she filed to get custody, child support, and lawyer fees. I was in court monday the 16th. and the judge said we will put it over for 1 week. I asked my lawyer as we left when was the next court date, and he told me monday the 23rd at 8:30. after this I fired him due to my having a $7000.00 bill I told him I couldn't let it get any higher (also he never returned calls, and went to court with out telling me.) So I subed my self in as atourney, and went to the family law self help center in the court house. They helped me fill out a responsive declaration, and get it filed the next day. Well on Thursday when i was filling my proof of service, I saw my ex. I asked her what she was doing her and she said we had court that day. I told her no I was monday not thursday. She said no it was today and since i was not there she got custody, child support, and $2500 so she could get an atourney, and there was a warrent for my arrest for not apearing!!
So here I am now freaking out. on Friday I filled with the help of the legal aide at the court houst a request to "set aside orders" Due to me having no idea I was to be in court on thursday. i have to wait till monday to find out if it was granted. Is there any one that can give me advise help or anthing at all, my boys didn't want to visit her let alone live with her.

