Karen

Thanks for explaining that. I totally understand what you are saying now. My brother in law suffers from low sperm count and weak sperm. His wife and himself did the sperm wash and so forth and AS it was not enough for them and after several months ended up going invetro. But my brother in law had really weak sperm and was informed from the get go the AS had a very low possiblility to work.
But they have a set of 7 year old twins and a 1 year old singleton now so it seems to have been worth all they went through.
I use to feel bad as I chucked baby after baby out so effortlessly and they had so many problems. Oddly my H is the only person amoung his siblings that does not have some form of reproduction problems H had a V reversed and only one side took yet still has a higher sperm count then the average male. I on the other hand have major issues carrying a baby do to a tilted uterus. So it all evens out.

I hope you and your H have great luck with this. I think you are awesome people with all the kids and helping out and still have the desire to want more. I use to do foster care and I know that is not a easy road to travel.

Mostly, he will smile an embarrassed smile

Belive it or not with as vocal and upfront as I can be my ex could elicit this same response from me. He would say something small and it would make me blush and act all shy. But on the inside it made me feel wonderful and adored. And my response other then a smile would just be the word really or hmmm.
So maybe this is not a bad response or lack of response as you precieve it to be.

Overall, I am feeling more positive about the quality of our interactions

I think if you can find quality in your interactions that is a good sign.

Hope you have a wonderful day!