Thanks so much for the advice thus far
I think just hearing that his reactions are normal are good for me to hear. He doesn't whine at night anymore when I put him in the Crate so perhaps he's on the road to being more comfortable with it.
I have toyed with the idea of a doggy walker, I am in a condo building with a fob entry door so I'll have to get another Fob before I can go down that road. A sitter would be great, I just worry that he doesn't have his 2nd set of shots yet so he could catch something, so they'll have to come to my place.
I have covered the crate and it has nice bedding in it etc, he's never gone potty in there yet
so I hope that stays that way...
I think I am just most stressed because he hates his Xpen, I just wish he was more ok with being in there ...