How to back up if screen is black?

My MacBook's screen suddenly went blank.  When I turn it on I hear all the usual tones, but the screen remains black.  If I shut the lid the light on the front goes on and tays solid but when I open the lid it goes off and you wouldn't be able to tell the computer is on except if you do a hard shut down you can hear the computer turn off.  I took the MacBook to my local Apple store and I was told that it would have to be sent out for repair, that there was indeed something wrong with the screen.
Because of the fact that the screen was black and I couldnt see what I was doing, I was unable to backup my data.  I was able to get the computer back from apple to bring home and try to hook up to a monitor so I could try a back up.  Unsuccessful.  the screen on the monitor remained black as well.
Please help.  My wife and I are expecting our first child, and she has some very importantant information on the computer including sonagram pictures of my unborn child that we do not want to lose.  How do I back up the computer if I can't see what I'm doing?

Or if your MacBook has a firewire port you can try to connect to another Mac in target mode. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
You can also easily remove the hard drive and put it in an external case. The information on the drive will still be good.
Here's instructions on removing the hard drive http://creativemac.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=45088
Here's a cheap SATA external hard drive case on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-5-SATA-HDD-HARD-DRIVE-EXTERNAL-ENCLOSURE-CASE-BOX-/120 636286623?pt=PCC_Drives_Storage_Internal&hash=item1c167ba69f

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