After lasted update, game deleted saves and tray files

Hello, I've been playing for TS4 since the beginning, so quite some time (and yes, I am currently using mods but not script heavy). I'm used to the process of  "remove mods etc" before every update so, as usual, this is what I did for the most current update.
After updating and downloading the new expansion I placed the folders back into the folder. All was fine, I checked, and then started the game. 
The launch screen loads and it gives me the "Start new game" option instead of my usual options with my saves. No option for loading any of my saves are present. I close the game and look in my folder and they are all freaking empty. I about flipped my desk. I do back up my folders but I hadn't backed up since my last generation on my legacy save so I've lost SO MUCH progress in the new generation. Granted, that's my fault but still... The game shouldn't be deleting that kind of information from your folder without you directing it to.
I even opened up one of my less played saves to look at my library and noticed that a lot of my current households that I saved aren't there now so I can't cobble together a save that has the missing generations. Again, frustrating.
Bonus, my pc won't let me roll back the folder to see if I can recover my files. Sweet.
As a side note: this has happened to me before when I bought and downloaded the expansion that came after Get to Work (can't remember and don't feel like looking it up). I had lost an entire generation. It was a completely cc and mod free at the time but the same exact thing happened. 
I'm aware that not a lot can be done now. What's done is done and I'll have to start all over and hope I get the same if not similar sims born for my save to replace the ones deleted. Let this be more of a heads up and cautionary tale to regularly back everything up frequently. HOWEVER, if there is a solution and it's available to recover what I've lost, please let me know.