NICOLE Richie’s closest pals are glad the socialite has checked herself into the hospital — because she’s been working “nonstop” over the past few months and needs some time to relax.

The former Simple Life star is currently in Los Angeles’ Ceders Sinai where she is being treated for pneumonia, her rep said.

In September, Richie gave birth to son Sparrow, her second child with Joel Madden; daughter Harlow is 22 months old.

According to Fox News, Richie began feeling achy as early as November 9.

“Nicole began feeling sick, and has pretty much been in bed,” a source said. “She didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but she was exhausted and couldn’t take care of Harlow and Sparrow the way she normally does.

“Nicole spent most days in bed, and the kids were brought in to her, since she was feeling so icky.

“Joel was out of the town the entire first week she was sick and he didn’t realize how serious it was. Friends were calling and stopping by to check in on her while Joel was away.

“When he got back he was worried and realized she didn’t have [just] a little flu bug.”

“Nicole has been working very hard since giving birth to Sparrow in September,” the source added. “She really is a stay-at-home mom with the kids all day long and then she goes to work on her House of Harlow line.

“She puts the kids to bed and then has a little quiet time to herself around 9pm. All the work and nonstop going out has been a lot for her right after giving birth.”

“She’s doing better and getting great care,” the friend says of Richie’s hospital visit. “It’s time for a speedy recovery.”

NICOLE Richie has been hospitalized in Los Angeles.

The former Simple Life star has checked herself into Ceders Sinai and is being treated for pneumonia, her rep said.

“Nicole has checked into Ceders Sinai where she is being treated for pneumonia,” the spokesperson told Us Weekly. “She is doing well.”

Citing illness, Nicole — whose dad is soul legend Lionel Richie — bowed out of the Nov. 10 launch of her House of Harlow jewelry at Bebe in L.A.

In September, she gave birth to son Sparrow, her second child with Joel Madden; daughter Harlow is 22 months old.

NICOLE Richie says dancing has helped her shift her post-pregnancy pounds.

The former Simple Life star — who gave birth to her son Sparrow in September — says she’s been strutting her funky stuff to Jay-Z.

“I’ve lost 10lbs from dancing!!” Richie, 28, wrote on her Twitter account Sunday. “H to the izzo. V to the izza!!”

“I”m gonna need crutches tomorrow,” she added.

Richie recently insisted her life is perfect now that she’s a mom to two healthy babies.

“I couldn’t be happier,” she gushed to People magazine in October. “The only thing you want is for your kids to be healthy and happy, and they are. I’m right where I belong.”

NICOLE Richie and Joel Madden aren’t married — despite recent reports to the contrary.

It had been claimed that the pair — who welcomed their second child, a son, in September this year — obtained a marriage license sometime last week and married in a top secret ceremony last Wednesday.

Star mag claimed Richie and Madden exchanged vows during an intimate at-home ceremony on Oct. 14 with Joel’s brother and bandmate Benji as a witness.

“Joel had been begging Nicole to get married since before Harlow was born. She wasn’t in a rush to make it official,” a source said, adding that after the death of Nicole’s former fiance DJ AM, “she didn’t want to spend another day not being Mrs. Joel Madden.”

But Good Charlotte rocker Joel has spoken out to set the record straight.

“I keep getting emails from old friends and family asking about a wedding,” he wrote on his blog. “NO we didn’t get married.”

HERE’S the first picture of Nicole Richie’s new baby son, Sparrow James Midnight Madden!

Richie — who gave birth six weeks ago — shows off the latest to her family, which also includes 21-month-old daughter Harlow, in the new issue of People magazine.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Richie gushed.  “The only thing you want is for your kids to be healthy and happy, and they are. I’m right where I belong.”

Richie says she and boyfriend Joel Madden are deprived of sleep, but grateful Harlow is now fawning over a baby brother.

“I’m glad I had a girl before I had a boy,” Richie dished. “She just loves him so much.”

“She’s very gentle with him,” Joel added.

The magazine will hit newsstands Friday.

Recent reports have claimed Richie and Madden secretly tied the knot.

Nicole Richie and her baby daddy Joel Madden hit the red carpet Sunday night for the 1st Annual The Noble Awards, which took place at the Beverly Hills Hilton.

The buzz last week was that Richie and Madden — who welcomed their second child, a son called Sparrow, in September this year — had gotten married in a super-secret ceremony. They’re yet to confirm these reports! (continue)

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden might be husband and wife!

The couple — who welcomed their second child, a son, in September this year — apparently obtained a marriage license sometime last week and married in a top secret ceremony on Wednesday.

According to Radar, Richie has been talking more seriously about marriage since the tragic death of her long term boyfriend, Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein, in August.

The couple are also parents to daughter Harlow Winter Kate Madden (born January 11, 2008).

Richie’s rep is yet to comment on the marriage reports…….. so we’ll just have to wait and see if she really is Mrs Joel Madden!

The celebrity snapper accused of causing Nicole Richie’s car crash on Monday has been arrested for driving without a license.

The 28-year-old TV star, who was driving a Land Rover, was hit by a paparazzo in a Jeep Cherokee in Beverly Hills yesterday, and told police she was experiencing discomfort and was going to hospital.

Richie was taken to a local hospital by her boyfriend Joel Madden’s twin brother Benji, who she was spotted with soon after the crash.

Eduardo Arrivabene was cited at the scene for driving without a license and has now been arrested for misdemeanor.

According to reports, Arrivabene is an undocumented worker and he tried to tell authorities it was his passenger, another pap, who was driving at the time of the crash.

Lieutenant Tony Lee of the Beverly Hills Police says, “Ms. Richie was driving with a passenger around 2pm when she was struck by two photographers driving in one vehicle behind her.

“She complained of pain, and her passenger is transporting her to a local hospital. Her car sustained moderate damage. No paramedics were called to the scene.”

Another adult was in the car with Nicole, but her two children with partner Joel — 20-month-old daughter Harlow and one-month-old son Sparrow — were not present.

New mom Nicole Richie was hospitalized Monday — after being rear-ended by paparazzi!

Police have confirmed that Richie — who gave birth to her second child in September — went to a Los Angeles hospital to seek medical treatment.

“Ms. Richie was driving with a passenger around 2 p.m. when she was struck by two photographers driving in one vehicle behind her,” said Lt. Tony Lee of the Beverly Hills Police. “She complained of pain, and her passenger is transporting her to a local hospital. Her car sustained moderate damage. No paramedics were called to the scene.”

The driver who rear-ended Richie is being arrested and booked for being unlicensed because “officers could not verify his identification,” Lt. Lee added. “He’s being physically brought into the station. This will likely be a misdemeanor traffic violation, and the photographer’s vehicle will be towed.”

Richie’s two children — son Sparrow and daughter Harlow — were not in the vehicle.

Nicole Richie’s friends are concerned about the star’s health.

Richie, 28, gave birth to her second child, son Sparrow James Midnight Madden, on September 9.

The baby joined sister Harlow Winter Kate Madden, born in January 2008.

And those closest to Nicole — who is engaged to Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden — say she has been run off her feet caring for her brood.

“Nicole is run ragged looking after the kids,” a source said. “Joel is helping as much as he can but with his band commitments there is only so much he can do.

“She has lost her baby weight already and it is mainly due to her dashing around being a new mom. She’s so tired we are worried she is going to burn out.”