My flight instructor and I sat down and mapped out an overview of what was still left in my training, and talked about the general procedure for flight test prep, in terms of reviewing various exercises. We then created a realistic schedule of flight lessons and study dates over the next several months, and included several "place-holder" lessons (to replace those that would inevitably need to be cancelled or rescheduled due to student or instructor illness, or inclement weather).
Although the limited windows of time between full time job, parenting/child-care, and other committments seemed frighteningly insufficient for the task at hand, seeing it all in one overview helped me to move the big picture to the forefront of my mind. What once seemed like a unattainably huge goal now appears to have an end in sight!
If all goes more or less according to plan, I should be ready for the flight test by late February, 2013. Assuming I pass that, I will fly my west cross country some time in March, and be a liscenced pilot by my 40th birthday!!!