Our toxic house...

We were babysitting my grandma's dog while she is in the hospital and when we went grocery shopping today he bit into a thermometer and it spilled mercury on our carpet. Well we got up the noticable mercury with a spoon and then called the vet who gave us the number for poison control. They then told us we needed to cut out the carpet where the mercury was spilled and the health department needs to come on Monday to test the house. We are staying at my mom's for a few days. Luckily Jacob was at a birthday party so he was never exposed to this. I am so overwelmed - I just can't belive we have to cut our carpet. Our dining room and living room is conected so there is really no way around having to get new carpet. We haven't done it yet we are waiting for the health department I guess. I thought you just couldn't touch mercury, I had no idea about the fumes or the dangers of breathing it, etc. I can not belive they acually put this crap in vacines. I have a whole new outlook on them after this. I am just hoping after they test our house Monday everything is ok. I also hope our homeowners insurance covers new carpet.