strange category menu / list alignment

Hi, I'm guessing there may be a mistake in the code that could cause various weirdness (explained below if needed)? i just want everything in this nav menu to stay put like on first arrival except making the selected category bold on each query. Each link reloads the the same page and adds the results in a content area (no separate details page). But the problem is that clicking some links, shifts the indentations and adds bullets to main categories. i'm not sure why.

list($menuCategoriesRecords, $menuCategoriesMetaData) = getCategories(array(
'tableName' => 'menu_categories',
'rootCategoryNum' => 23,
));


<p class="spost"><ul class="menunav">
<?php foreach ($menuCategoriesRecords as $menuCategoryRecord): ?>
<?php echo $menuCategoryRecord['_listItemStart'] ?>
<?php if ($menuCategoryRecord['_isSelected']): ?>
<strong><?php if (!$menuCategoryRecord['_hasChild']):?><a href="<?php echo $menuCategoryRecord['_link'] ?>"><?php endif; ?><?php echo $menuCategoryRecord['name'] ?><?php if (!$menuCategoryRecord['_hasChild']):?></a><?php endif; ?></strong>
<?php else: ?>
<?php if (!$menuCategoryRecord['_hasChild']):?><a href="<?php echo $menuCategoryRecord['_link'] ?>"><?php endif; ?><?php echo $menuCategoryRecord['name'] ?><?php if (!$menuCategoryRecord['_hasChild']):?></a><?php endif; ?>
<?php echo $menuCategoryRecord['_listItemEnd'] ?><?php endif; ?>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul></p>

On page arrival, the above navigation lists as expected.
Each category lists without a bullet.
each child element has a bullet and is a link.
child items / links are indented under the category. (this is where the problem comes later):
Sandwiches
-Classic Sandwiches
-Panini Sandwiches
-Breakfast Sandwiches
Soups and Salads
-Soups
-Salads
Beverages
-Cafe
-Various
Delicatessen
-Cheese
-Meats
Catering
-Party Trays
-Catering Dishes
-Desserts

Clicking child 1 or 2 of sandwiches reloads the page and the nav looks the same but selection is bold. Perfect.

Clicking child 3 of sandwiches or any child >1 in other categories, reloads the the page and every thing below what was clicked indents and a bullet is added to each main category. Below, I clicked on Beverages:various (beverages became a child of soups and salads on reload and everything below it was indented and bulleted)

Sandwiches
-Classic Sandwiches
-Panini Sandwiches
-Breakfast Sandwiches
Soups and Salads
-Soups
-Salads
-Beverages
-Cafe
-Various
-Delicatessen
-Cheese
-Meats
-Catering
-Party Trays
-Catering Dishes
-Desserts

Yeah, i know. uploading and posting a link would be so much easier. :b Hopefully, that was clear and an easy fix. thanks for your support.