To all who have replied so far, 'thank you' - I appreciate your information. In addition:

Perche, how did you manage to jump from the NYC Consulate to the Consulate in Houston? Do you have to live in the area to make an appointment? - or are they not as strict about this.

Andreadbc, I am going to write one more time and as Slawecki suggested, call them both this week. If I do not hear back in about a month, I may fly to Italy also.

EMB, I got on the ICAP's website. Most of the documentation needed is fairly easy to obtain, but if one uses them primarily for the Birth Certificates, they seem very good and their fees reasonable. This is a very good suggestion and probably just as good as flying over myself: it's nice to have a choice.

I previously mentioned, I am going to write one more time. There is a small Italian restaurant near my house and I am always going in there and talking about Italy and food. The servers are very nice and there is little doubt they will help with a short cover letter. Maybe there are some 'buzzwords' I do not know.

Lastly, a family member has gone thru the process and become a citizen. Some of the documentation I am seeking, he submitted for himself. This documentation has already been 'accepted' and the information somewhere in the system. I am wondering if the Chicago Consulate can 'pull-up' the accepted information and apply it in my case. I may email the Consulate and ask them if this is possible, but this is only if I start getting desperate. Has anyone else tried or done this??