very unique circumstances,not 1 caseworker has delt with a case like our...help!

Okay, where do I start...My husband and I were given "Power of Attorney" of 3 girls, (ages 4,7 and 8) whose parents were pretty close friends of ours. The parents had an open case with DHS, when they gave them to us. I did know the case was open because I was one of the people that reported the parents to DHS for "meth" use/manufacturing in the home. After the initial 5 reports were made and no action was taken...I intervened and asked the parents to let us take the girls, so they could get treatment. On 1-2-11, at 3:00am I received the call that would forever change our lives! It was the mother, (my friend) asking me to take the girls...when I got there, we made a plan for me to come and pack the girls while they were at school, then I would get them after school and take them home with me. The next day we moved the girls in, those girls never cried when we explained what was happening, they were sad that the parents were upset but after we were home a few hours, they were laughing and playing. DHS was not happy, the mom apparently knew the girls were about to be removed and thought if she gave the girls to us, DHS would just go away.....yeah right!! Over the next 4 months, we had DHS workers in and out of our home weekly, upset family members to deal with, both parents in and out of jail constantly, parents would come visit and after they would leave, we would notice things missing..... these are just a few examples of what we were dealing with. We were always open and honest with DHS, we made the girls available whenever asked and even started the Foster care process. Getting a sitter when you have classes twice a week for 6 kids, was never easy. But we did it happily, these girls were worth it! Although it was chaotic at times, our family was complete, happy, and so much, in love!! From the day we got those girls, we were told this was an unusual case, when we were taking the PRIDE classes, anytime we had questions about our situation we were told we had to ask the caseworker, when we would ask the case worker our questions, she "couldn't" help us because the girls weren't in the "system".... So after I was lead to believe that we could do something called "non-kinship care" to get the help started for the girls, the way it was explained to me, it was a paper work thing, nothing would change but the girls would be in the "system" and would start getting some needed services...... Only to my horror, on 4-20-11 I got another phone call that would change my life forever, DHS was coming to remove the girls and they were being placed into foster care....THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE! The girls were yelling, screaming, crying, hiding, locking themselves in different rooms, even the caseworkers were crying a little. We got a visit 2 days later for Easter. And when we got to see them for the first time, they all 3 started crying and running at us from across the room....again the caseworker has tears running down her face. We did not get to see the girls again until 9-12-11 because we were not "blood family". We have gotten to see the girls 7 times in the year they have been gone, we have not missed one birthday, holiday, or any opportunity we were invited to see them. I have gone to every court hearing, team meeting, I have stayed in contact with all lawyers, caseworkers, a few family members, and the girls parents. Currently the caseworker is preparing to ask for termination of both parents, who are both serving sentences that will surpass the 90 day extension period given by the judge...SO both parents are willing to relinquish their rights, but only if My family gets to adopt the girls, but the foster parent now wants them as well.....we have put our names in for consideration for adoption and to request a home study. Does anyone know if this is possible or how the process works when you have competing parties for adoption? Does the opinion of the parents or other family members matter? They are all supportive of us adopting the girls. Thanks for taking the time to read and reply with any info you think will be helpful.