I got divorced Oct 2007, I got married when I was 15 (1996) we had 3 girls, He didn't want me to work, and always said if I did he would leave me. So I didn't. I finally got sick of him being controlling and abusive. So I left. I moved in with my Mom, I finally got him to file the divorce papers cause I couldn't afford it. I ended up losing my girls to him, because I didn't listen to him and go to a parenting class, and didn't have the money to afford a lawyer for my side. I am now and have been since I left, hearing that he has been talking very bad about me to our old friends, and most important of all our children. (Telling my children that since I'm remarried I don't care about them, that I only care about my new step children. That I left because of them that I don't love them, that I'm a bad mother, that I've been sleeping around, and all kinds of other things.) Which NONE are true. My children are the most important things in my life, and NOTHING will ever change that. I want my kids back and want to make him stop telling them and others lies. How can I go about doing that, and will it help me get my kids back?

I will be somewhat cruel and harsh.

When you were doing the child custody, that is when you needed an attorney. Now since you did leave, and since you did not seem to care enough even to take the court required parenting class, it will look like to the court you really did not care. So it will be a hard battle.
You need to get an attorney now for sure.