Mariska Hargitay is finally clearing the air about her repeated hospitalizationso ver the past several months. As Mariska went in and out of the hospital and on and off the set of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, the rumors have been everything to near-death pneumonia to some sort of contract negotiations with SVU producers. Mariska spoke out Monday night, telling People Magazine that as she was doing a stunt during SVU filming, she “fell wrong, basically” and collapsed her lung. As for the repeated hospitalizations, Mariska’s rep still claims that those visits were only for repeated tests and check-ups. Oh, well. If she’s out and about, that’s a good sign. Hopefully she’s feeling a lot better:

Since January, when her rep announced Mariska Hargitay had suffered a partially collapsed lung, information about the nature of the Law & Order: SVU’s star condition has been scant, until now.

During a dinner in Manhattan for the American Ballet Theater on Monday, Hargitay, 45, told PEOPLE: “I’ve been doing my own stunts on the show for 10 years. I fell wrong, basically. I collapsed my lung doing a stunt.”

Hargitay underwent surgery in January, then returned to work on her NBC series soon after – only to check back into the hospital on March 3, at which time her rep said: “She is undergoing routine tests and expects to be feeling better soon.”

A March 9 statement said, “Mariska is recovering well and is expected to return to SVU in the next couple of weeks.” On March 23, PEOPLE reported she was back on the set.

And now? “I’m 100 percent,” a spectacular-looking Hargitay, in a long gown by Caroline Herrera, told PEOPLE at the dinner, where Caroline Kennedy introduced Michelle Obama, who in turn introduced the young performers of the ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School.

Added Hargitay: “I’m back to my old self.”

[From People]

Yes, Mariska is already back to shooting Special Victims Unit, even though this has been the worst season ever. Well, there have been a few exceptions. That episode about child soldiers immigrating to New York was really good – and they even filmed a scene at the United Nations! That was exciting. But perhaps for Mariska’s return next season, they should get some more interesting sex crimes.

The National Enquirer has a theory this week on Mariska’s illness and her new-found health – they claim that now that she’s feeling better, she’s really wants to try to get pregnant again. Her son August turn three next month – and he’s one of the cutest babies ever. Good gene pool!

“Mariska is happily telling close friends her collapsed lung issues are over and all she can think of is giving her son August a little baby brother or sister – and soon!” a source revealed to The Enquirer.

[She] and husband Peter Hermann, 41, whom she married in 2004, began making effort again to expand their family, says another insider. August was born in June 2006.

“It’s her dream to have a second child – it’s almost as if it’s all she can think about,” said the insider.

And while her publicist denies she’s pregnant now, the baby buzz is already swirling on the “SVU” set, maintains the insider.

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, May 25, 2009]

I was thinking about reporting on this story last week, but it didn’t seem like there was much to go on. They’re not claiming Mariska is pregnant, only that she would like another child. Which I’m sure she would – although she’s already given some quotes about how much she’s missing from August’s childhood by being on the SVU set so much. So either she’s trying to get pregnant, or she’s signed on for another few years on SVU. Who knows?

Mariska Hargitay is shown 5/18/09 at the Metropolitan Opera for opening night. Credit: Fame Pictures