"I feel that I have grown so much during these 8 months apart that loosing my bf is just not an option....."
Uh.....What!!??
Well again I speak only from my perspective. I am assuming the bf stands for boyfriend? If that is correct....
Well if you were my WAW and wanted to come back to me, yet did not want to give up your boyfriend. Well to be brutally honest with you, I would slam the door in your face. I would want to see a genuine willingness to work on the MARRIAGE.....and for myself well a boyfriend shows me not very much willingness. I mean how hard would a person be able to commit to working on something if there is a fallback right there?
Hun, you need to sort this out. I do want my wife to come back. But the slate has to be clean. Lets start over and build a better marriage than before. Let the past go. Let the bf go. Be ready and able to give it 100% effort.
Sorry if what I said makes you feel uncomfortable, it is just my opinion do what with it what ever you choose.