Re-Evaluate Variables in a Conditional Loop

programming flash
1

Ive racked my brain on this one and I just cant seem to see what im doing wrong.

I have 2 text boxes that need to be evaluated against each other.
Both are input boxes that capture and store data into variables. I just want to
compare those values and run the proper code.

It works fine for the first round. If I enter new values, the variables are updated as well. But the new values are not applied to the condition the second time around.

var requested: Number = input_txt1.text;
var total: Number = input_txt2.text;

btn_mc.onMouseUp = doPress;

function doPress () {
var requested: Number = input_txt1.text;
var total: Number = input_txt2.text;
trace (input_txt1.text);
trace (input_txt2.text);

if (total<requested) {
    trace ("if statement 1");}
    trace (input_txt1.text);
    trace (input_txt2.text);        
    
if (requested<total) {
    trace ("if statement 2");}
    trace (input_txt1.text);
    trace (input_txt2.text);

};
Can you see where I went wrong?