wantobehealthy, my kids are grown so I can't speak on that part but my AH was physically abusive too. Do you have a lot of friends and family? I screamed it to the mountaintops that he is abusing me to everyone I knew and told them the story of the hell I was living in and I didn't let pride get in the way, I was honest with people I knew. Go ahead with going to court file for protection and also there are many women abuse orgs that can give you advise. You must be in control not him, he will back down. You must throw out all of the inhibitions of what will they think of him in your head to protect yourself and your kids, but be careful on the people you tell this too not people you have in common. My AH did back down and finally once in our marriage I feel like I have control of my life without fear of abuse, too many people I know know what's going on and now for once he's paranoid and not me.
I'm praying for you and know you will come out on the other side of this!