Hey, I'm also from South Texas and in a similar situation, but I didn't apply until April 2013. I just did my third e-request yesterday, I've talked to my representative, I did the Ombudsman request, I've sent emails to the Nebraska followup email, I send a message on the White House website, and unfortunately nothing has helped (It'll be nine months next week since the USCIS received my application at the Nebraska SC). I'm getting to a point where stress is taking over me and I feel extremely frustrated. Thankfully school will take some of that away starting next week. The worst is to see people that applied less than THREE months ago getting approved, it's just bittersweet because we are all in the same situation but it isn't fair.
By the way, did you file the application yourself or did you go to an attorney?