"I'd Like to Check You for Ticks"

I always hated that song. The thought of little bugs crawling around makes my skin itch. Unfortunately, my skin has been itching like crazy for the past couple weeks.

It started out with one tick on a certain furry member of the family. Then, I found one on my little girl last week. I cried like a crazy woman and went into webMD induced panic. After much reassurance from family/friends/friends' family and a call to the pediatrician, I calmed down enough to enjoy Pennsylvania and Colonial Beach, VA with a sweet friend.

Since returning home, we have found two ticks on me, two on Kogi and no less than 8 on the floor where Kogi usually hangs out. Ahhhhhh! Needless to say... I am FREAKING OUT! I hate bugs with a passion! If I find a bug in the house, I usually cover it up with a plastic cup and wait for someone else to kill it.
Kogi, poor thing, has been kicked off the bed and no longer is allowed on the furniture. His monthly topical tick medication has done nothing to prevent these little devils from hitching a ride on him. We have now added a tick collar to his everyday outfit, but these bugs are stubborn and we keep finding them around. HELP! John is even picking up flea & tick shampoo today for Kogi. I feel so bad for the little puppy. :( He is itching up a storm and has left clumps of his hair throughout the house.

We purchased chemicals to spray around the house, but we can't spray it until we figure out a good time to get Ellington and Kogi out of the house for a few hours. I have never encountered his problem before. What should we do? I am tempted to move near the city and never step foot in a wooded area again... ticks don't live in the city, right? I may even ban outdoor activities and become the crazy woman who never leaves her house for fear of tick bites. Advice would be GREATLY appreciated!