Welcome to the SR family!
I am glad you found us, and hope you will make yourself at home by reading and posting as much as needed. We are here to listen and offer support, encouragement and advise if desired.
I have experience with ex-husbands and visitation.
It has been my experience that the ex will duck out of visitation given the chance to spend the day with an activity that involves alcohol. I no longer want to waste my time trying to teach an alcoholic how to be a responsible, sober parent - so I let him skip as many visits as he wishes. I never complain.
Is your ex actively planning his visitations or was he reminded it was his turn by someone?
If someone reminded him of his schedule, that is not helping him or your children.
I hope you find a favorable judge to grant supervised visitation incase your ex does keep up his attempts at visitation.