I'm getting a new leaf! I'm very excited about it. The growth is noticable almost daily! Maybe I won't have to wait so long for a new spike after all. I'm glad I didn't manage to kill it as I'm a known cactus-murderer. :-\
Well you started off by saying that you don't have a green thumb, now , from reading the above you have something far better, Knowledge !
Relax and enjoy your plant , I hope it is the first of many.