I am a passport acceptance agent for the post office, but addressing drcla08's concern, they should have some trackable method when they send out passports, I believe that is a requirement. If for whatever reason, you do need to re-apply (I'm not sure where you live), you can get a passport within 24 hours, but you should make an appointment and may have to travel a bit to do so, depending on your location.

Here is where you can find all that info, here. The travel.state.gov website is the official website for passport information in the USA.

Thanks so much for your replies and help everyone! Have a very disappointing, irritating update! Today was told that there is basically nothing at all that they can do to help. Was simply told my application must have been lost and to reapply. Typical bad luck for me. This has by far been the most stressful, drawn out process of anything I've ever had to deal with and got nowhere at all with it, but I'm not giving up! Going to be ordering a new birth certificate tomorrow and making an appointment at a passport agency in Chicago! It's way out of the way..must be done though :/

update number 2: was just informed that my application has actually just been received and signed off on by the passport agency yesterday! What a roller coaster of emotions :P

just renewed at the post office with expedited service / first class mail - passport returned in 8 days.

Great to hear. Keep us posted on when you receive the passport. Why would you have needed a new birth certificate? Because the passport was lost?