Virtual Keyboard Won't Open And Deletes Messages. . .

[itslikecody]

Whenever I'm texting, and I receive a message, when I hit the black space to bring up the keyboard, and it never does. I have to turn it sideways, and then I can open that one, and then turn it back to use the one I wanted to in the first place.
Another issue I have is that my phone clears my whole inbox out at random times. I'll open up my inbox only to see that every message is gone.
Anyone have a solution to either of these issues?