i uploaded over 1000 photos from my phone to my icloud and they are all gone! Help!

If designated iCloud storage limit was crossed the data will never save in iCloud server , it could be photos or other apple applications synced with iCloud .

See these articles Get help with iCloud Photos - Apple Support

Read the section - What happens when I go over my iCloud storage limit?

See this article Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support

Make sure you have turned on settings as per this article Use iCloud Photos on iPhone - Apple Support

You wrote - , I saw them all and even opened them up to check, so I logged off and deleted them from my phone. I checked back into my I cloud a few weeks later and they are all gone!! - after signing out how can you delete photos ??

Did you signed out Apple ID from iPhone Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac - Apple Support

And selected don't keep a copy of photos , so the photos were not saved in the device / iPhone but they are not erased from iCloud server .

Again sign in with same Apple ID and password Sign in with your Apple ID - Apple Support

And turn on photos box if the photos are yet on icloud server , they must sync Turn iCloud features on or off - Apple Support