Lost an entire month of photos

I downloaded all of my Dec. photos off my camera and then deleted them. When I went to open up the file I created to post on our blog - nothing --- an empty folder.
WOW____ I feel sick. Jed's grad., sledding, snow, christmas, new years, jed's birthday!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh why couldn't it happen during a boring month?
Well, if I find them I will post them. If not a month of pictures gone!!!!!