Thank you for such a fast reply. I've actually got a local attorney in mind that I'm calling in the morning. Since I dont seem to sleep until at least 2am my time...ever...I figured I would ask in here to see what you guys and gals thought. I would prefer not to let this drag out any longer than it needs to, especially since it's been sitting all this time already. Art. 561 does go on to say that if the motion to dismiss is denied, I am permitted 60 days from the date of mailing of the order in which to appeal.
Hate to be a pain, but I'd like to ask one more question. Do you know if it's permissible for a judge's assistant or law clerk to sign the judge's name on a court order? I now have two orders from the same judge, within a couple weeks of each other, and the handwriting on them is incredibly different. The handwriting on one of them closely matches signatures I have seen for the law clerk on other unrelated documents. My limited understanding says that the judge must sign the order, or the order may be void.

