Hi Depress, I'm pleased to hear that things may be turning with your sitch. My advice would be to be very clear about the terms on which this can happen. What are your deal breakers here? Normally, people suggest:

NC with OW (this includes a NC letter)
Full transparency
MC if that's what you want

What rings alarm bells with me is 'he just needs more time to be completely free of the OW.' If that means seeing her, that's a big no IMHO. If he wants to be free of her and home again, his actions (NC) need to reinforce that.

Please don't make coming home too easy for him. If he wants to be back with you and his family, there is some heavy lifting for him to do here.

It's good that he misses you all, and feels almost ready to be home though....pleased for you.

T :-)

T 13 M 7
Me 48 H 46
SS 15
BD 7.14 PA
D final 5.16 (H filed)

We receive & we lose, and must try to achieve gratitude & embrace with whole hearts whatever of life that remains after the losses - Dubus