Problem connecting to SQL database while running the configuration wizard

I am trying to migrate from WSS 3.0 to Sharepoint Foundation 2010.  I using many articles to help me.  I have installed SQL 2008r2 Express and Sharepoint Foundation 2010 on the same server.  I am going through the Sharepoint Products Configuration Wizard.  

I have specified the database server and database name (Sharepoint_config) and username and password.  The problem I am having is I keep getting the error:  "Cannot connect to database Master at sql server at Poly-2008-svr1.  The database might not exists or the current user does not have permission to connect to it." 

I cannot figure out what is wrong.  The account I am using is the admin account I used to install sql 2008r2 Express and SP Foundation 2010.  I found some information on the error that led me to do the following:
1- turned off the windows firewall (even thought this should not have been necessary due to same server)
2- from SQL Server configuration manager, SQL Server Network Configuration, Protocols for Serverxxx, enabled TCP/IP and Named Pipes

I don't know what else to check.  If the permissions are wrong, how can I verify them?  The user has sysadmin server role.  I am not sure what else the user might need.