Thanks Eugenefolkie! Your comment really helped me to keep plugging along through the pain -- that and my total fear of having to start again from scratch HaHa!

Well, I'm proud to say that I can now practice the guitar for an hour or two with NO PAIN!! I don't think I have actual calluses yet, but my fingers seem to have turned off the pain sensors in their tips :) Now, when I am forced to stop, it's because my tips are so dented that I don't get clean notes anymore! I'm looking forward to my calluses, but in the meantime, I'm loving playing pain-free! Thanks so much to all of you for your advice and encouragement!