Got kicked off the game and now steam launcher says it's patching and i get Failed to get version information from patch server

Please send a ticket to official support with that issue :)

Where is the patch notes for today 2/18/23?   I know I'm old but I can't find them.  lol   

https://www.naeu.playblackdesert.com/en-US/News/Detail?groupContentNo=4827&countryType=en-US

Here you go :)

Hi. I started playing recently. I don't see the Spring Blossom outfit or pack in the pearl shop. I'm desperately trying to get this outfit to complete my style for Hisako from Killer Instinct. Everything I Google says I can just go to the shop, but it's not there. I'm on PS4. Am I doing something wrong or missing something? Thanks for any help.

It seems youre on the wrong forum and websites. The console website is here: 
https://www.console.playblackdesert.com/Main/Index

You can find the pearl shop announcements here: https://www.console.playblackdesert.com/News/Notice/Detail?boardNo=13133

Note that it does not mention the pack or outfit being available. As it is an event-only outfit, it does not seem that you can currently buy it on console.

Thanks a lot for the info Minarya. Just one more question. In general, are seasonal outfits available only once and then completely gone, or do they return yearly? (It seems like they don't return, but just double-checking. Getting used to how it works in BDO compared to how other MMO's I've played do seasonal clothes. Each is slightly different.)

They generally return multiple times per year. There are some exceptions, that either did not return yet (Eternal Winter Outfit) or that return more sparingly, but most outfits return every once in a while. If you missed it once, you will have the opportunity to get them again at some point, in general (we only had one exception to this so far).