So, here's my timeline ... (My travel was initially planned for March 6 and postponed twice.)

1/22 Submitted for online renewal (BIG mistake!) with expedited processing and expedited delivery
2/2 Receipt acknowledgment
2/6 In process

... and there it sat, and sat, and sat ... I spent many hours on hold trying to get an update or an appointment to no avail. ("No appointments available nationwide.") I was disconnected numerous times, and it seemed that 9 times out of 10 the online system for status checking was down.

3/12 (Sunday) Sent an email to my senator's office
3/13 Received email from senator's office, stating that a case worker and case number had been assigned and I would be contacted shortly
3/14 Caseworker called directly to let me know that they had arranged an appointment for me at the passport agency in DC for Thursday, 3/16 since they could not confirm when my passport might actually show up since it was still in process in Minneapolis.
3/16 Arrived at 8 AM for a 9 AM appointment. By 9:15 AM everything had been processed and I was told to return in 3 hours to pick up my passport. Had passport in hand by 2 pm.