GRRR!!!! cannot upload pics anymore! help!

Hello, can somebody please help me!! I had no problems getting pics from memory card onto laptop and now all of a sudden when I put my card in all it says is 'safely remove hardware' and my pics are nowhere to be found. i have done everything I can!!! Sons daddy is in Iraq and cannot see pics and I am getting very frustrated!!! what did i do wrong and can i fix it??