my license expired so now im dead in the water till i get it renewed WITH HM....so heres the question, do i have to get my TSA letter after doing the prints and all or can i get Hazmat renewed just with the reciept from the fingerprinting place??

I had to renew mine also, and my TWIC, just a couple weeks ago.

You have to renew your CDL, and I think because the license expired, you can not renew your endorsement, until after you get the TSA letter of approval, at this point.

If you had gone in to renew your license and endorsement before the license expired, (keep it valid) they would have issued you a temporary CDL, which would permit you to drive and haul hazmat, long as you've shown you've already applied for the TSA clearance.
You get a receipt after you've done the application, and fingerprints.