'Real Housewives'' Lisa Hochstein On Fertility Struggles & More

On the last season of The Real Housewives of Miami, viewers were introduced to Lisa Hochstein, the bubbly 30-year-old wife of famed plastic surgeon Lenny Hochstein.  The tiny fitness fanatic is currently working on expanding her health and beauty brand, while continuing to push forward with her plans to move into Tony Montana's house on Miami Beach's fancy schmancy Star Island. Except it's not Tony Montana's house.

"It drives us nuts. Apparently this home was in a background of a scene in that movie. It is not the actual house where Tony Montana got shot up by all of those drug lords," Lisa explains to YourTango about her casa complications after a Miami Beach Review Board halted the Hochsteins plans to demolish the 87-year-old home featured in Scarface, in favor of leaving the iconic (or not) house untouched.

"If anyone does their research, you will see that is not the house. It makes it seem like it's such a historical landmark … which it's not,” Hochstein continues. "It's falling apart … we put our hands into the wall and we were pulling the wall apart, infested with cockroaches, the air conditioning is not functional … it's just a house that's not salvageable."

After winning their dispute against preservationists, Lisa and Lenny are cautiously optimistic. "We're very happy about [the win], but it's not over yet ... we would like to start construction in the next few months, but you just don't know with these things. It's so unpredictable."

As is, unfortunately, Lisa's timeline to start a family. Married since 2009, the couple hoped to have two children by now but instead—for no known medical cause—they're struggling to conceive. Here, Lisa opens up about maintaining a positive outlook while putting surrogacy conversations on the table.

YourTango: Mother's Day is soon approaching. Is that a difficult day for you?
Lisa Hochstein: I'm trying to become a mother, so of course not having our child yet is difficult. But I also try to celebrate my own mother, and I try to focus and stay positive because to me, it's her day. If I can, I will fly to Canada or I'll fly her here. I just really try to focus on the person that gave me life.

YourTango: What is the latest with your IVF treatments?
Lisa Hochstein: We're still actively trying the IVF. We're going to do another cycle, and we're always trying things that are different. We're hoping that this time around, we'll have a good outcome and have a little baby boy or girl. These things take time, and I've talked to many women and I've realized that we're not alone. A lot of women have tried countless times and eventually it happens for them, so I like to keep that in the back of my mind. It helps me stay positive to know that other people are going through the same thing. This stuff happens. 

YourTango: Besides IVF, what else are you trying? 
Lisa Hochstein: I heard take baby aspirin. There's acupuncture, baby aspirin; we're doing all of these little things and constantly getting new tips and tricks. So many fans have been sending me messages on Twitter and Facebook. 

YourTango: Are you hoping for a boy or girl?
Lisa Hochstein: At this point, I don't even care. Before, I thought I wanted a boy first, but at this point, I just want anything.

YourTango: What if the IVF treatments lead to twins or triplets?!
Lisa Hochstein: The more the merrier! It would be exciting because we finally would have our babies. But it would be scary at the same time because we would be going from zero to 100. It would be a blessing. Whatever God gives me, it's going to be a blessing and I'm going to do the best I can to be the best mom I can.

YourTango: Have you decided on any names?
Lisa Hochstein: I have but I don't want to reveal any of my names because I don't want anyone to steal them. [laughs.]

YourTango: Lenny is Jewish and you’re Christian. Have you decided how you will raise your children?
Lisa Hochstein: We are going to raise our children Jewish. That was Lenny's request and all I ask is that we celebrate both Christian and Jewish holidays. They're going to understand that mommy is not Jewish, daddy is …They will understand that it's a big world and there's lots of different religions … You can't choose a person, based on their religion, to love. You just fall in love with who you fall in love with. If it's a different religion, you're going to have to make it work, and this is how we're making it work for us.

YourTango: You mentioned on Real Housewives of Miami a concern for your marriage if you can't conceive. Can you talk more about this to help other women experiencing similar feelings?
Lisa Hochstein: Having a child with your husband or wife strengthens your bond, and it unites you as a family even more so. For me, personally, I feel that it would strengthen my relationship … I'm not speaking for everyone, but many times men ultimately get married because they want to start that family … Although Lenny has never voiced that he would leave me, I know it's a very important thing for himself and myself to have children, so who knows later on in life? People change, relationships change … Although I never want to be without my husband, these are very valid questions and concerns ... It's a very taboo thing to talk about. Even though a husband may be thinking deep down inside, 'I just wanted a kid. This isn't going to work. What do I do?' it's a thing that people just don’t talk about.

YourTango: Are you considering adoption more seriously now?
Lisa Hochstein: We're going to continue to try to have our own biological child, because we don't see any reason why we can't. We just see this as a little speed bump in the way of our family. Who knows? Maybe later on we will. It's not something we're against. I respect and I commend every person out there who has such love in their hearts that they want to adopt.

YourTango: Would you use a surrogate?
Lisa Hochstein: We're willing to try everything. That's definitely an option. Whatever we need to do, we're going to do it ... That's such an odd thing to me, to use a surrogate, but if that's the way it has to be, that's the way it's going to be. It's going to be our kid no matter what. If nothing else is working, we're just at our wits' end, that would be an option.