Externally loaded content just one number

1

Here is my as2

homeText = new LoadVars();
homeText.onLoad = function(success) {
 if (success) {
     RanNum = Math.ceil(Math.random()*6);
     ran = this["quote"+1];
     _root.contentMain.home_txt.text = ran;
     var sizing:Number = this["size"];
     _root.contentMain.home_txt._height = sizing;
     }
 else {
     _root.contentMain.home_txt.text = "The text failed to load due to an error";
 }
}

homeText.load("hometext.txt");

Here is my external file

quote1=Sushi is one of my favorite foods but I rarely eat it.Sushi is one of my favorite foods but I rarely eat it&size=400

Why does this:

 var sizing:Number = this["size"];
     _root.contentMain.home_txt._height = sizing;

not make the text box 400 pixels in height.

If I just put

 _root.contentMain.home_txt._height = 400;

it works, but I need to be able to change that number externally in that text file.

Thanks in advance this is driving me crazy.