The mother of my children has ran off with the carnival. She expects that when and if she returns that she will resume her 50/50 custody. Also her parents are intervening wanting her 50% of custody. I am spent when it come to lawyer fees. My family is going to go bankrupt if I keep a lawyer. The grandfather has tried to threaten me into signing their offer and stated that he will keep me in court until he dies or my kids turn 18. I need help to get full custody without an attorney. Please help me for my kids sake.

There was an occasion where the mother was charged with child abuse for my kids being locked out of her house at dark and she was passed out inside with her boyfriend. But yet her rich father bought her way out of it. I am fighting money which I don't have.

Which state?? The custody laws vary from state to state.Not all states define child neglect and abandonment in the same manner

I live in North Carolina

You must file for sole custody in your local court.
You must file petition but the problem is not how you put it in a petition, it is how you present it at trial. You need witnesses.
In the petition you simply describe your concerns. At trial, you have to show admissible evidence of what happened,you would need to prove your case there.
Custody is decided based on the best interests of the child.If you prove all above you will get sole physical custody.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-322 (2006)
§ 14-322. Abandonment and failure to support spouse and children.
(a) For purposes of this Article:
(d) Any parent who shall willfully neglect or refuse to provide adequate support for that parent's child, whether natural or adopted, and whether the parent abandons the child, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished according to subsection (f).

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-322.1
§ 14-322.1. Abandonment of child or children for six months
Any man or woman who, without just cause or provocation, willfully abandons his or her child or children for six months and who willfully fails or refuses to provide adequate means of
Support for his or her child or children during the six months' period, and who attempts to
Conceal his or her whereabouts from his or her child or children with the intent of escaping his
Lawful obligation for the support of said child or children, shall be punished as a Class I felon.

According to NC law abandonment means 6 months without contact and child support payments.

The grandfather has tried to threaten me into signing their offer and stated that he will keep me in court until he dies or my kids turn 18.
He can say what he wants :)
Actually he is "Third party" and he can get custody only if you are unfit parent.If he loses his claim he will have to pay your costs,too.