STOP using the machine right now and call DriveSavers on 800.440.1904 or 415.382.2000
It's going to cost you, big time, but you may feel that it is worth it.
The less you use this machine, the greater the chances of successful data recovery.
Although your situation is not unusual, I am still surprised and disappointed at the number of people who make a living on their computers, Windows and Mac, that were "just about to back everything up"!
It's especially annoying when it is a Mac user who has an external drive but ignores the Time Machine software, which would have solved this problem in 30 seconds or less, and who does not have a back routine of any sort.
"You only lose what you don't backup" is used a lot on these forums, along with "If you are not backing it up, you don't care if it goes away"
Good Luck with the recovery, let us know how it all turns out.
P
As the title says, just earlier today I changed a file from 'August Projects' to 'September Projects'.
A few hours later I went into the folder to arrange files and I noticed that instead of 40 or so file folders, there were only 6!!
What the hell? What could have happened here?
(I'm a musician/producer)
This is the most current/important things I have been working on, and it is imperative to recover these some how. I do not believe they are completely gone, just 'hidden'.
Please and thank you so much for any help- these files are a big part of the life I'm trying to create. I was JUST about to back everything up together on an external hard drive..
I'm running OSX 10.6.8

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic