Laptop crashed.... photos lost. :(

Our laptop has crashed almost 2 weeks ago. At this point, I lost the last 4 1/2 months worth of pictures, including roughly 2,000 sport photos. :(   Right now, it is in the shop and hopefully the photos can be recovered.  I had planned to back it up on that Monday, but it had crashed the day before.  Let's say I was pretty upset/sick to my stomach over this.  I am still holding out hopes that the hard drive can be recovered..  So I have no photos to show for the last 4 1/2 months, however, my camera card had some of the football photos and soccer photos.  I will get them uploaded eventually - however, my photo editing programs were on the laptop.  I'm posting from the tiny netbook, LOL.