I was bought up in a violent house and my father sounds very much like your OH, my child hood was not a pleasant upbringing and believe me CHILDREN know excatly what is going on.
I wish my mother left my father 30 years ago or put me and my sisters and brother in care (we would have had a better childhood in a care home then what we had with them)
My mother is still with my dad and "HATES MY FATHER" he is still a verbal and cruel bully to her and he is now 74 years old, my mother confidence as been striped away over the years and she seems to think it is too late for her to leave him!! The only thing that will seperate them is death and I hope to GOD that he dies before her, but I know he will not die before her as she is weak and is a broken woman.
Laney look at the future and be strong for you and your children your life can only get better you are not at fault and people DO NOT CHANGE no matter how much they say they will..... you have one life and you can make it good for you and your children just believe in yourself and you will find the strength.