I dropped off the radar after getting SA. Just thought I post a quick update.
After receiving SA, I immediately booked my flight to Calgary to visit with my husband while I await PR. I was kind of put through the ringer at customs, despite what my immigration lawyer said would happen (we both knew there were no guarantees, but my lawyer didn't think I'd encounter any trouble if I just straight up told them I didn't have a "return date" and that I was there to wait out the PR process). Customs insisted I be able to tell them how long I intended to stay in Canada and, when I couldn't/wouldn't give a definitive timeline, they sent me over to talk to the immigration agents. In talking to the immigration agent, I explained that that my husband had been granted SA and that I was here to visit him for the holidays and wait out the remainder of the PR process. I truthfully told him that I was going to stay the full 6 months and apply to extend my visitation after that. He immediately got an attitude with me, but after it was all said and done, I think his attitude was a test to see if I'd say something wrong, or slip up somehow. After at least half an hour of answering all of his questions, he completely turned around, was very nice and helpful and let me through. One thing I was not expecting was that I was given a visitor record allowing me to stay for up to one year as opposed to the standard 6 months.
Admittedly, for the first few minutes of my encounter with the immigration agent, I wanted to break down and cry. I really felt I was going to have to get back on a plane and go back home, but I forced myself to remain calm, answered all of his questions with complete honesty, and everything worked out wonderfully in the end. Now if I can just manage to magically get PR in a month or two like some of you lucky folk, everything will be perfect.